The Student Life of Germany Part 24

Very frequently in the students' drinking companies they sing a roundelay, as we lately saw at the evening peep at them at Hoffmann's rooms, where each one sings in turn a song, or, at least, a strophe.

This, as we have seen, they term a Sauf-Comment, which we may look at a little more closely, as it is sometimes attended with variations. The president of the Sauf-Comment sings,--

There goes a drinking-law oar table all around, around, There goes a drinking-law our table all around.

Ten quarts and yet one-a Ye knew well what I think on-a.

Ten measures and ten mo, Fidib.u.m! let one now go, let one now go, let one now go!

Or,

Three time three are nine-a, Ye know well what I opine-a.

There goes a drinking-law our table all around!

When all have sung round till it comes to one who can find no more song to sing, the Ch.o.r.e then sings--

Our brother, N. N.

To pitch, to pitch, is turned again.

Draw thou white-horse good, Up to the knees in mud, etc.

The student has, again, other songs for festive celebrations and for fun, as for the initiation of the Foxes, by the Fox-ride; for the Commers; for the departure from the university; nor is he at all wanting in songs proper for a serenade to his beloved. Love, Wine, Fatherland, Friendship, of them the poets of a former age have sung, and of them sing the poets of our own. These the songs of the student celebrate, and the son of the Muses does not forget to enjoy his wine while he sings of it, well knowing how very often the other things exist rather in idea than in actuality.

And who should be more in the humour to sing a merry song than the student, who revels in the enjoyment of the serene present, perhaps shutting out a darker future from his eyes, which is yet separated from him by his examination. This happy time, free from all cares, which darken the later life of him who grasps at riches or at the phantom of renown; this time, he knows well, comprehends but a few years,--"but the whole of life," thinks he philosophically enough, "is but a span of time, therefore let us the more enjoy these years, and celebrate with song the felicity of youth." In this spirit they often sing and act with great glee the following comic piece:

AN UNBOUNDED JOLLITY.

An unbounded jollity is of my life the rule, Sir, Since it leads me gaily through youth's rosy paradise: Comes a Manichean in, an old dunning fool, sir, I'm sure to give him much good advice.

"'Slife! hear you now, sir, I want my gold."

"Cease jaw, Camel, I've none, and that's soon told."

_Spoken_.--Make thyself scarce. Old Lamentable! Give time! or I'll pay thy long bill with five silver groschen. Agio.--We'll knock it all off (pointing to his stick, and showing his five fingers.)

Quickly doth the old fool fly, And I laugh till fit to die.

Pray then when a-fresh the rhino cometh in, sir.

An unbounded jollity, etc.

Morning to the lectures go; nine-pins in the evening; Early, in old house-coat; not till late our toilet made.

To Commers then haste away, For there's pawked in a Fox to-day.

_Spoken_.--"Silence, Fox! hold your tongue when Old Mossy Heads are speaking."--"Ah! Heavens! I can drink no more of these healths. It makes me so ill."--"Hold thy tongue, Fox! Thou hast yet only emptied nineteen choppins of most excellent beer. It is not worth talking of.

Study only three years, and thou'lt bring it up to nine-and-twenty."

So we had the Commers here, Jolly still with wine and beer, For we are but young once, in our life so fleeting.

An unbounded jollity, etc.

Meet I now an Exquisite, who comes stately sailing, Who right flat and swelling larger draws near.

Then trample I on his toe--then wondereth he; I tread it again--then waxeth be wroth.

_Spoken_.---"Hear you there! Was that done purposely with the foot!"--"No; it was done with the heel."--"So! but that appears to me very strange?"--"Do me then the only pleasure; find nothing strange here. You are a Stupid Youth!"

And the duel then is seen, For the wit is mighty keen;-- Strike him a thundering Winkelquarte![34]

As unbounded jollity, etc.

Find I then a sweet maid and loving, Then contains Ovidii Ars Amandi, good advice.

"Ay, but wilt thou marry me?"--"Don't be afraid; When I've once my office got, 'twont be delayed."

_Spoken_.--"Aha! that's just as it happens! First I go to Jena, there to study the _Nefas_; then go I to Heidelberg, study there the great _Fa.s.ss_.[35] That's the way of it."

And then comes the tug of strife, With the Pandects, life for life.

Then after, examen, office calls, and then for marriage.

An unbounded jollity, etc.

I'm a great philosopher, of the school of Hegel, And his system follow I to the life.

The Beadle is upset, the Philistine is teased; Goes all wrong--the Prorector is appeased.

_Spoken_.--"Well, Sir! last night you have again cudgelled and floored five watchmen; and for this you must spend four weeks in the Carcer."--"Your Magnificence, I think nothing of that!"--"You will go on cudgelling watchmen till you get the Consilium abeundi."--"Youth must sow its wild oats;--that's an old rule. Your Magnificence was young once: certainly it's a good while ago; but spite of this, I hope one of these days to become an honest, brave fellow, and do service to my Fatherland, and become a special honour to your Prorectorate."

Thereupon drops he a tear; Thinks of his youth--"Ah! it was dear!"

Gives me an examen summa c.u.m laude.

An unbounded jollity, etc.

Happy are they who carry on with them this free and cheerful disposition into after-life, which for most of those who now live so gaily and happily at the university, brings an arduous succession of labours loaded with cares and fatigues, which, however, sometimes leave as their reward at the end of their career of life, a consciousness of having discovered a certain portion of truth, and of having been able to benefit their fellow-citizens. Student-life thus belongs to those things which can come only once in our existence, but which are on that very account the fullest of happiness, and must often extend their influence so far as at least to refresh by their memory a later, solemn, and joyless life. The songs of a happy youth accompany him who has entered on the more serious path of his existence, and their melody is able to bring him back for a moment now and then into the dream of his young years. With a song of sorrow the student too, follows to the grave the brother who departed this life, and then turns from the image of death, and rejoices that he yet longer can enjoy the happy Burschen period.

GAUDEAMUS IGITUR.

Gaudeamus igitur Juvenesdum sumus; Post jucundam juventutem, Post molestam senectutem, Nos habebit humus.

Ubi sunt, qui ante nos In mundo fuere?

Vadite ad superos, Transite ad inferos, Ubi jam fuere.