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.
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 cum laude.An unbounded jollity, etc.
Thereupon drops he a tear;Thinks of his youth--"Ah! it was dear!"Gives me an examen summa cum 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 igiturJuvenesdum sumus;Post jucundam juventutem,Post molestam senectutem,Nos habebit humus.Ubi sunt, qui ante nosIn mundo fuere?Vadite ad superos,Transite ad inferos,Ubi jam fuere.Vita nostra brevis est,Brevi finietur;Venit mors velociter;Rapit nos atrociter;Nemini parcetur.Vivat academia,Vivant professores,Vivat membrum quodlibet,Vivant membra quælibet;Semper sint in flore.Vivant omnes virgines,Faciles, formosæ;Vivant et mulieres,Vivant et mulieresBonæ, laboriosæ.Vivat et respublica,Et qui illam regit;Vivat nostra civitas,Mecenatum caritas,Quæ nos hic protegit.Pereat tristitia,Pereant osores;Pereat diabolus,Quivis anti-burschiusAtque irrisores.
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.
Vita nostra brevis est,
Brevi finietur;
Venit mors velociter;
Rapit nos atrociter;
Nemini parcetur.
Vivat academia,
Vivant professores,
Vivat membrum quodlibet,
Vivant membra quælibet;
Semper sint in flore.
Vivant omnes virgines,
Faciles, formosæ;
Vivant et mulieres,
Vivant et mulieres
Bonæ, laboriosæ.
Vivat et respublica,
Et qui illam regit;
Vivat nostra civitas,
Mecenatum caritas,
Quæ nos hic protegit.
Pereat tristitia,
Pereant osores;
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis anti-burschius
Atque irrisores.
Seize the glittering wine-cup there!See ye not, no purply winking,Blood of nature, rich and rare?Let us grasp it, boldly drinking,That a fire-strength may glowThrough each vein--a new creation!Sacred is of wine the flow--Is of youth the glad elation!Uhland.
Seize the glittering wine-cup there!See ye not, no purply winking,Blood of nature, rich and rare?Let us grasp it, boldly drinking,That a fire-strength may glowThrough each vein--a new creation!Sacred is of wine the flow--Is of youth the glad elation!
Uhland.
Have the gods drunk nectar!--the gods, exempt from all the cares of mortal existence, and shall then poor mankind be envied the enjoyment of their earthly nectar? No; not without cause was it celebrated by all the ancient poets. Even the great Reformer himself joined in its praise; and Horace says--
Narratur et prisci Catonis,Sæpe mero caluisse virtus.
Narratur et prisci Catonis,Sæpe mero caluisse virtus.
Then come the moralists truly and say, "You should not purposely throw yourselves into an artificial gladness; the true gladness comes from within." Very true; and the genuine healing of sickness comes from within, and you shall and cannot subdue it by art? It is therefore that the Turks believe that you ought not to assist nature in her marvellous operations by a healing means. If that be your faith, do as the Turks do, and drink no wine. But have we not thus a thousand things which are to a certain degree necessary to our well-being, necessary to preserve the proper tone of mind and body? And would you blindly condemn all these? Wherefore then do you imagine that wine was made? Would you banish all poetry out of life, and say
Who then would cheat himself with phantom shapes,That with a borrowed charm do clothe existence,And with a false possession follow Hope?Schiller.
Who then would cheat himself with phantom shapes,That with a borrowed charm do clothe existence,And with a false possession follow Hope?
Schiller.
Will you do that? Then, indeed, must you banish wine; for it is, so to say, an incarnate poetry. For if it were not that, it were nothing to us; and to whomsoever it is not that, him counsel we to refrain, and to hand it over to other and happier mortals. But think well on it ere you banish all poetry out of the world.
The roseate-tinted veil of dreamsFalls from Life's countenance of pallid gloom,And the world showeth as it is--a tomb.Schiller.
The roseate-tinted veil of dreamsFalls from Life's countenance of pallid gloom,And the world showeth as it is--a tomb.
Schiller.
Who, then, would wish to live in such a world? No; we value the wine which calls forth the poetry of the inner man of him who is not totally abandoned of the Muses. But you, perhaps, reprobate the enjoyment of wine as too ignoble and material. But is it then the material portion of the wine which confers on us its witchcraft? No; it is the fine spirit, and that ethereal life which the German calls the flower of the wine. They ascend to the exhausted brain, and brace the relaxed chords. Know you then whether the strength which gives to life poetry and fresh grace, may not be one and the same? Whether the strength which is here bound to the material substratum, be not the same which there seizes thee mightily in the creations of Shakspeare? whether it be not the same which lives in the accord of the violoncello; whether it be not the same which dwells so entrancingly in the voice of the beloved? Yes, the spirits of the wine are related to others; and when they discover their brothers in the breasts of men, so combine they vigorously, and bursting their bonds, rush forth into active operation. All those noble feelings which had long, perhaps, by their possessor, who had experienced the bitter deceits of life, been beaten down and slept in obscurity--now, touched by the magic wand of wine, start again from their tomb. But when the spirits of the wine find there only strange and ignoble associates, then raise they with them a fierce conflict, in order from such guests of hell to free man; whose difference from all other beings, says Goethe, consists in this--that he be noble, helpful, and good! Therefore despise not wine, which is capable of accomplishing such rare ends, which can raise phantasies such as were dreamed in the Rathskeller at Bremen.[36]No; we acknowledge the wisdom of him who gave the wine to mankind, and of the good old patriarch who so thankfully received it.
OLD NOAH.Noah from the ark had got,The Lord came to him on the spot;He smelt his offering in the wind,And said to thee I will be kind.And since a pious house thou art,Thyself shall name the gracious part.Then Noah answered, as he stood,"Dear Lord, this water smacks not good.Therefore I, poor old man, would fainSome different kind of drink obtain,Since that there hath been drowned thereinAll sinful beasts, and men of sin."To Paradise, God stretched his hand,And gave him thence a vine-stock grand;He gave him counsel good and right,Said, "Tend thou this with all thy might."He him instructed,--so, and so,--Till Noah's joy no bounds did know.Both wife and child did Noah call,His servants and his house-folks all.He planted vineyards all about--For, trust me, Noah was no lout;Built cellars then, and pressed the wine,And tunned it into hogsheads fine.Old Noah was a pious man;Soon to a row his barrels ran.To God's high praise he drained each cask,Nor deemed it, faith, a heavy task.He drank, thereafter, as appears,Three hundred yet and fifty years.A knowing man thence see it will,That wine well used, can do no ill.And farther,--that no Christian moreInto his wine will water pour,--Because there hath been drowned therein,All sinful beasts, and men of sin.
Noah from the ark had got,
The Lord came to him on the spot;
He smelt his offering in the wind,
And said to thee I will be kind.
And since a pious house thou art,
Thyself shall name the gracious part.
Then Noah answered, as he stood,
"Dear Lord, this water smacks not good.
Therefore I, poor old man, would fain
Some different kind of drink obtain,
Since that there hath been drowned therein
All sinful beasts, and men of sin."
To Paradise, God stretched his hand,
And gave him thence a vine-stock grand;
He gave him counsel good and right,
Said, "Tend thou this with all thy might."
He him instructed,--so, and so,--
Till Noah's joy no bounds did know.
Both wife and child did Noah call,
His servants and his house-folks all.
He planted vineyards all about--
For, trust me, Noah was no lout;
Built cellars then, and pressed the wine,
And tunned it into hogsheads fine.
Old Noah was a pious man;
Soon to a row his barrels ran.
To God's high praise he drained each cask,
Nor deemed it, faith, a heavy task.
He drank, thereafter, as appears,
Three hundred yet and fifty years.
A knowing man thence see it will,
That wine well used, can do no ill.
And farther,--that no Christian more
Into his wine will water pour,--
Because there hath been drowned therein,
All sinful beasts, and men of sin.
The Germans never despised their cups. Tacitus, in his time, said of them--"To drink day and night brings disgrace to no one." Tacitus might, in truth, have said pretty much the same of his own people. If in the beginning they mixed their wine with water, this is not to be taken as the fact in an after period. Who does not recollect the son of Cicero, the most celebrated drinker of his time, with whose exploits in tippling scarcely the Germans could match themselves, stout drinkers as they were? It is well known that the ancient Germans transacted their most important affairs when they were elate with Bacchus, and reconsidered them, the next day, with a sober understanding. This custom they retained, in many places, during the Middle Ages, and this was the case in the free city of Bremen. Wine and song have maintained their standing in every true Brotherhood, and this still continues to be the practice in Germany. This ancient German custom then, least of all could be expected to be abandoned in Burschendom, and their songs are, for the most part, sung over the cup.
We may here find a place for some words of Schluck's persiflage on theBurschen-Comment.
"The songs which are sung by the Commerses are called Burschen songs, and besides the students, nobody may sing them--since they,
"1. Are only composed in honour of the studentship; and,
"2. Are chiefly composed in Latin, as the language belonging to the learned."
(This is no longer the case. Latin songs become daily rarer yet some still remain in use, as--Mihi est propositum.)
"Should a Knote dare to sing a student song, he is to be well cudgelled; not so much on account of the excellence of the song, as on account of the audacity of the Philistine, presuming to desecrate songs sacred to the students especially as it is impossible that he can have so much feeling as to appreciate the elegance and beauty of such songs."
As the occasions on which men sing are very different, it is natural that the contents of the songs should be so too. Some contain--
Firstly.--An incitement to joy. Amongst these I reckon "Up Brothers, let us joyful be;" or, an Exhortation to Friendship, as thatbonne amitiésong, with which a Commers is always opened, and whose object is solely to create a friendly feeling in the Old Burschen towards the Foxes.
Secondly.--Others are Freedom and Fatherland songs; amongst which, high above all, stands "The Landsfather."
Thirdly.--Songs which express the spirit and bravery of the students; as--"The Bursch of genuine Shot and Corn;" or "The Sword on my left side:" "Know ye the happy way to conquer;" "Brave 'tis 'neath the free blue Heaven," etc. One of these we may here give at length, as a
PICTURE OF THE OLD-FASHIONED BURSCH.The Bursch of real shot and corn,His courage still doth bloom;On heavy boot the spur is worn,From hat doth sway the plume.The huge hat makes a gallant show,With the sword cut through;[37]It guards him more from thrust and blow,Than were it sound and new.The Bursch his ornament doth bear,Which him such pleasure brings,The sword which with a fearful airUpon his left side swings.As Bursch, when through the town he stirs,Majestic in all eyes,The sparks they lighten round his spurs,And fire crossways flies.What careth he, though hole there be,Upon his elbow now;The jolly Bursch remaineth he,Before whom all must bow.But wo to thee! if on his courseIn perfumed garb thou rub;He'll curse thee for Pomatum-horse,And threaten with his club.For friends still beats his heart so warm,He feels their grief and care;For them he wields his mighty arm,Nor would his own life spare.Whoever saw him shrink a-back,Or do a coward deed?Shame on him he would never take,Though kingdoms were the meed.They law how in the battle-shockHis flashing sword he drew;They saw how from its sweep, like smoke,The slaves before him flew.Courage in danger and distressIs aye the conquering plan:Aye though all hell upon him press,He'll show himself a man!Hears he of Hermann's spirit proud,Of his high deeds the fame,His German blood warns him aloud--"Be worthy of the name!"He drinks the German vine-juice bright,And German feels and great;In his right arm dwells giant might,And freedom's his estate.Then live hoch! every German manWho thinks and speaks as he;But they who falsehood basely plan,Extinguished may they be!Weighs care upon his heart's repose,He takes his pipe so dear,And as the Knaster fumes and glows,All troubles disappear.He is a Bursch,---livessans façonHim all their friend may deem;His heart is good, although we ownAt times it different seem.Fair maids he wishes free from wrongs,With joy to their life's goal;And lauds them still in all his songs,With all his heart and soul.See! though all glasses empty stand,Full jugs to us appeal;So send the wine from hand to hand,And drink the Bursch's weal.Already from the jug's full floodTo glass the wine doth flow,And to our worthy Brotherhood,We'll sound this hearty hoch!Baden I call my Fatherland,As life I prize its weal;Therefore I wear the Baden Band,And guard with hand and steel.
The Bursch of real shot and corn,
His courage still doth bloom;
On heavy boot the spur is worn,
From hat doth sway the plume.
The huge hat makes a gallant show,
With the sword cut through;[37]
It guards him more from thrust and blow,
Than were it sound and new.
The Bursch his ornament doth bear,
Which him such pleasure brings,
The sword which with a fearful air
Upon his left side swings.
As Bursch, when through the town he stirs,
Majestic in all eyes,
The sparks they lighten round his spurs,
And fire crossways flies.
What careth he, though hole there be,
Upon his elbow now;
The jolly Bursch remaineth he,
Before whom all must bow.
But wo to thee! if on his course
In perfumed garb thou rub;
He'll curse thee for Pomatum-horse,
And threaten with his club.
For friends still beats his heart so warm,
He feels their grief and care;
For them he wields his mighty arm,
Nor would his own life spare.
Whoever saw him shrink a-back,
Or do a coward deed?
Shame on him he would never take,
Though kingdoms were the meed.
They law how in the battle-shock
His flashing sword he drew;
They saw how from its sweep, like smoke,
The slaves before him flew.
Courage in danger and distress
Is aye the conquering plan:
Aye though all hell upon him press,
He'll show himself a man!
Hears he of Hermann's spirit proud,
Of his high deeds the fame,
His German blood warns him aloud--
"Be worthy of the name!"
He drinks the German vine-juice bright,
And German feels and great;
In his right arm dwells giant might,
And freedom's his estate.
Then live hoch! every German man
Who thinks and speaks as he;
But they who falsehood basely plan,
Extinguished may they be!
Weighs care upon his heart's repose,
He takes his pipe so dear,
And as the Knaster fumes and glows,
All troubles disappear.
He is a Bursch,---livessans façon
Him all their friend may deem;
His heart is good, although we own
At times it different seem.
Fair maids he wishes free from wrongs,
With joy to their life's goal;
And lauds them still in all his songs,
With all his heart and soul.
See! though all glasses empty stand,
Full jugs to us appeal;
So send the wine from hand to hand,
And drink the Bursch's weal.
Already from the jug's full flood
To glass the wine doth flow,
And to our worthy Brotherhood,
We'll sound this hearty hoch!
Baden I call my Fatherland,
As life I prize its weal;
Therefore I wear the Baden Band,
And guard with hand and steel.
Fourthly.--Others are drinking songs; as "Crambambuli, that is the title;" or "When carousing I shall die;" "The year is good, the brown beer thrives;" "Bring me blood of noble vines;" "The dearest sweetheart that I have;" "I have throughout the forenoon long;" "I and my dear bottle;" "Now sing in dulci jubilo;" or that maiden song, in which the maiden is drunk for, while he who empties most measures is declared the conqueror, and entitled to marry the maiden; while the rest cry and chorus.
He's done it stout, he's done it stout,So will he not be laughed right out.
He's done it stout, he's done it stout,So will he not be laughed right out.
And the maiden, who all the while is perfectly unconscious of these proceedings, and has given no consent to them, is declared to be won, and is pronounced to be the beloved of the victor. Ah, poor maiden! so wouldst thou, not out of love, but truly contrary to thy will, be thrown into the arms of a drunkard!
This maiden song is now, to the honour of the studentship, quite out of use; yet Zackariä describes such a scene as common in the days of his Renommist.
And therefore filled he with beer that mighty glass,And drank it off the first unto that fair endearing---A maiden yet whose name had scarcely met his hearingHe held in hand, as sceptre, the solid room-door key,Thus acted he as chief, and to his realm gave heA sacred law, unpausing the measured draught to end;And oft his judge's arm let the heavy key descend.Wo unto him who then this law as rebel brake,When he that thunder-wordpro pœna, to him spake.Then must another measure his luckless throat o'erflow,Or stood he in great danger the damsel to forego.* * * * *"But now, ye Brothers--hoch! and let Selinda live.Vivat Selinda, hoch! with roughest throats now roar,Vivat Selinda, hoch! cry mightily once more!Shout for the third time--hoch!"--the very room did quiver,And on the long wet table the glasses ring and shiver.As in old Homer's story, upon the Trojan plain,Mars, like ten thousand men, sent forth a cry of pain,Till the whole army trembled, with rock, and hill, and valley,So trembled now this chamber with this Studenten sally.Then Torf her lovely countenance with such a beauty draws,That each one swearing gave a thundering applause.The Renommist then cried--who inly now grew warmer--Here I myself do choose her--I choose her for my Charmer."The fiend thou dost!" said Torf, right loath to give her o'er,But Raufbold straight defied him to twenty choppins more.Torf yielded up the contest--strength did his hope betray,And Leipsic's crown was thus far from the faint-heart drunk away.The Renommist.
And therefore filled he with beer that mighty glass,And drank it off the first unto that fair endearing---A maiden yet whose name had scarcely met his hearingHe held in hand, as sceptre, the solid room-door key,Thus acted he as chief, and to his realm gave heA sacred law, unpausing the measured draught to end;And oft his judge's arm let the heavy key descend.Wo unto him who then this law as rebel brake,When he that thunder-wordpro pœna, to him spake.Then must another measure his luckless throat o'erflow,Or stood he in great danger the damsel to forego.
* * * * *
"But now, ye Brothers--hoch! and let Selinda live.Vivat Selinda, hoch! with roughest throats now roar,Vivat Selinda, hoch! cry mightily once more!Shout for the third time--hoch!"--the very room did quiver,And on the long wet table the glasses ring and shiver.As in old Homer's story, upon the Trojan plain,Mars, like ten thousand men, sent forth a cry of pain,Till the whole army trembled, with rock, and hill, and valley,So trembled now this chamber with this Studenten sally.Then Torf her lovely countenance with such a beauty draws,That each one swearing gave a thundering applause.The Renommist then cried--who inly now grew warmer--Here I myself do choose her--I choose her for my Charmer."The fiend thou dost!" said Torf, right loath to give her o'er,But Raufbold straight defied him to twenty choppins more.Torf yielded up the contest--strength did his hope betray,And Leipsic's crown was thus far from the faint-heart drunk away.
The Renommist.
Certain songs belong to the conclusion of a Commers, or drinking meeting. With the last song, the glasses are turned upside down according to the old song, and the brother revellers, wish each other a good night.
I take my dear glass in my handAnd bear it to the Underland.I fetch again my glass so dear,And hold to th' right and to th' left ear.My glass unto my mouth set I,And drain it to the bottom dry.The right thing to the glass do we,What was above must under be.The glass must walk the land O!From one to th' other hand O!
I take my dear glass in my hand
And bear it to the Underland.
I fetch again my glass so dear,
And hold to th' right and to th' left ear.
My glass unto my mouth set I,
And drain it to the bottom dry.
The right thing to the glass do we,
What was above must under be.
The glass must walk the land O!
From one to th' other hand O!
He who in drinking or singing shoots a buck--that is, has broken the rule--mustpro pœna, or in other words as a penalty, empty an extra choppin or two. He who often associates himself with a Commers, is called a Commers-brother.
Give us a prime good glass, so will our praise be ample,Only be 't not too scant a sample;For when on wine I must decideWith mouth right full I'd have it tried.Goethe's Faust.
Give us a prime good glass, so will our praise be ample,Only be 't not too scant a sample;For when on wine I must decideWith mouth right full I'd have it tried.
Goethe's Faust.
So thought the German students in earlier times, and so think they still. Drinking had reached a dreadful height in the Middle Ages, and many laws were passed, but in vain, to put a check on the madness. It was the same amongst the Burschen, who carried it to a most incredible extent. At the time that those students who were the best drinkers, were most regarded amongst their fellows in the universities, a Westphalian studying in Halle, made a visit to a countryman who was studying at Jena. The Jena student, to show his friend that he understood life, immediately on the first evening, called all his companions together, and they all drank to the welcome visiter so strongly in beer and wine, that on the following morning he had hardly slept off the effects of it before twelve o'clock. Scarcely had he dressed and despatched his dinner, when he was anew conducted to the drinking-place. Thus the revel continued for eight days in succession, when he travelled back to Halle. After his return he related many strange things of the mode of life of his countrymen in Jena, and always added--"Children,--it is very curious in Jena,--there is no forenoon there."
Such madness is now gone by; yet, ever and anon, there are students who might boldly challenge the gentlemen of the old school to a trial at toping, if they would rise out of their graves to it. Beer is the general beverage of the students, and as the best sorts of the same, as the Bavarian, and the formerly celebrated Heidelberg beer, are not strong, the health of the consumer, even in a long-continued course, is not injured by it, as it is in other universities, where, through the want of beer, wine and spirits are drunk. Beer, at the same time, is the cheapest liquor, and on that account is liked by the student not less than by the common man, amongst whom it is equally the custom to drink much. In one year, when the choppin (pint) of beer cost one-third of a penny, or, about half the usual price, a coachman achieved a most extraordinary feat in drinking. Some students promised to pay for a hundred choppins if he would drink it with only short intervals. He accepted the offer, and had all the hundred measures set in a row on a bench. He drank the first, walked slowly to the end of the hall and back, drank off the second, and so on till finding not another drop, he said quietly to the landlord--"So, now let me have just another choppin for my money."
The students drink generally beer at their Kneips, and if this is done in the open air, a large company is accustomed to pile up the emptied jugs into a pyramid.
Not by trophies, marbled over,Will posterity discoverWhat we brothers here have done;But of triumph our memorial,These drained pitchers in their glory all,Pile, a pyramid of fun!Hauff.
Not by trophies, marbled over,
Will posterity discover
What we brothers here have done;
But of triumph our memorial,
These drained pitchers in their glory all,
Pile, a pyramid of fun!
Hauff.
At Commers, and on other festive occasions, are also frequently drunk wine, or ardent glee-wine and punch. It is a very ancient custom, amongst drinkers, that the glasses must be emptied after certain and manifold practices and prescriptions. Horace describes a similar wont in his time, where the drinkers are accustomed to elect a king, who presided on the occasion. Such rules are now become quite voluminous amongst the students, and are collected into their so-called Beer-Comment. This, therefore, contains the guiding laws of the Beer-Court. We will give this Beer-Comment at the end of the volume, as an example of the elaborate style into which this old and deep-rooted custom of German student-life has come to be carried out. Strange as it may appear to other nations, it is a custom in Germany, old as the universities themselves; and as our object is to probe to the very bottom of student-life, and give a full and faithful portraiture of it, those of our sober readers who may not think these very wise or commendable laws, may, having read the rest of the book, there close it, without perusing this Beer-Code. We also precede the account of the Commerses with a collection of all the phrases which the Germans employ to clothe in a tolerable garb of decorum that dreamy condition into which Bacchus frequently throws his votaries. These modes of expression were collected by Lichtenberg, and a few only have been added to them.
In the Low German are some fifty other phrases on the same subject.
And there is grandfather, who, letters still extant,Though now somewhat ancient, give sure text on't.In many a Commers and Burschen-feast,As sword-bearing Præses his fame increased.Preface to the Renommist.
And there is grandfather, who, letters still extant,Though now somewhat ancient, give sure text on't.In many a Commers and Burschen-feast,As sword-bearing Præses his fame increased.
Preface to the Renommist.
Our discourse shall now be of a beautiful feast of the Students--the Commers. We describe the Commers of the present day; since in earlier times this festival bore another shape, and was disfigured by rude customs, so that we may justly say of the Commers, that it has not, like most other feasts, degenerated in the course of years, but has already improved itself. We will hereafter speak of these customs of an earlier time, and of some which in many places still remain, but which do not necessarily belong to the Commers. We understand by a Commers, as it now exists, a festive assembly, which consecrates itself by a higher tone and signification by the singing of "The Landsfather."
The Commers is divided into the general and the special. In the former, the assembled Chores, and all other students who wish it, take part. In describing the constitution of a Chore, we have already spoken of these. In the special Commers, only a particular Chore, with all those that are attached to it, and such other members of other friendly Chores as are invited, take part. The Commerses are distinguished into Entrance and Farewell Commerses, with which the Semesters open and close. The Fox-ride generally takes place at the Entrance-Commers. Each particular Chore, moreover, has its Foundation-Commers, on which it celebrates the anniversary of its establishment. Many Chores also are accustomed to hold a Commers in honour of the birthday of their Land Prince.
First, of the General Commers. To this, assemble themselves all who take part in it, in a spacious room, either in the city or in its immediate neighbourhood.
Those students who are not themselves in any Chore, attach themselves to one or other of them, and each Chore has its particular table; and two presidents sit at the head of each table. The chief president is the Senior of that Chore which has the secretaryship.
When the Commers shall begin, the presidents cry "ad loca!" which command every one must be careful to obey, if he would avoid the consequence of a beer penalty. In these Commerses, the rule is to drink beer, and this is called a Commers in beer. The chief president has now to give out the songs which shall be sung, and he also dictates the particular verses. Certain songs are on these occasions brought forward from time immemorial, as "Heidelberg, live thou! hurrah hoch!" or the following, at a Farewell Commers.
THE TRAVEL SONG.Away! we have drunk it, the sparkling wine,Adieu, now, ye loved ones, to wander is mine.Adieu, now ye mountains, thou fatherly home,For mightily drives me the passion to roam.For mightily drives me the passion to roam.The sun in the heaven won't pause without change,But speeds on through lands and o'er oceans to range;The wave will not cling to the same lonesome strand;The storms, they go roaring with might through the land.--(The land).With clouds, fast careering, the bird floats along,And sings in the far-land its home-loving song;Through forest and field so the Bursche is hurl'd,To be, like his mother, the wandering world.--(The world).There greet him the birds which beyond seas he knew;From fields of his home-scenes 'tis here that they flew.The sweet flowers around him familiarly grow,In airs from his country, far wafted, they blow.--(They blow).The birds! O well know they his father's own towers;For garlands of love once he planted those flowers.And love, it still follows, still gives him the hand,And makes him a home in that furthermost land.--(That land).
Away! we have drunk it, the sparkling wine,Adieu, now, ye loved ones, to wander is mine.Adieu, now ye mountains, thou fatherly home,For mightily drives me the passion to roam.For mightily drives me the passion to roam.
The sun in the heaven won't pause without change,But speeds on through lands and o'er oceans to range;The wave will not cling to the same lonesome strand;The storms, they go roaring with might through the land.--(The land).
With clouds, fast careering, the bird floats along,And sings in the far-land its home-loving song;Through forest and field so the Bursche is hurl'd,To be, like his mother, the wandering world.--(The world).
There greet him the birds which beyond seas he knew;From fields of his home-scenes 'tis here that they flew.The sweet flowers around him familiarly grow,In airs from his country, far wafted, they blow.--(They blow).
The birds! O well know they his father's own towers;For garlands of love once he planted those flowers.And love, it still follows, still gives him the hand,And makes him a home in that furthermost land.--(That land).
Before each president lies a drawn sword, with which, as signal of command, he strikes upon the table. It is forbidden to every one, on pain of a beer-penalty, to interrupt the song in any manner whatever. So now the singing and drinking go forward in regular course. At a later hour a supper is eaten, and the Commers is closed by the singing of "The Landsfather," after which there is no more singing, but it immediately becomes free to every one to stay and kneip on as long as he likes.
When "The Landsfather" is to begin, the presidents command "ad loca!" Every one must quietly take his seat, and it is allowed to no one, as otherwise commonly happens at kneipings, to take off his coat, and sit in his shirt-sleeves. All must be conducted solemnly and seriously. All voices join in--
THE CONSECRATION SONG, OR LANDSFATHER.Silence all ye, each one call yeUnto solemn tones his ear!Hark, the song of songs I raise now,German brothers, join in praise now,Sound it, Sound it back a chorus clear!Of your Fatherland the song;Fatherland! thou land so famous,Sacred to thy glory claim us;--Germans proudly, swell ye loudly,We, our swords, to thee belong!Life and living to thee giving,We are all prepared to bleed:Ready at each hour for dying,Death, with all his wounds defying,If our Fatherland it need.He who feels not; he who zeals not,In true worth to be arrayed,--He shall not our bond dishonour;This our Bride,[38]swear not upon her;Nor the German sword degrade.Song the proudest, swell it loudest;Brave and German be we too;See the consecrated band here,As brave Burschen take your stand here,And the free-cap strike ye through.See it gleaming, softly beaming,In my left this stain-free glave;Thus I strike the cap through, swearing,Honour bright for ever wearing,Still to be a Bursché brave!
Silence all ye, each one call ye
Unto solemn tones his ear!
Hark, the song of songs I raise now,
German brothers, join in praise now,
Sound it, Sound it back a chorus clear!
Of your Fatherland the song;
Fatherland! thou land so famous,
Sacred to thy glory claim us;--
Germans proudly, swell ye loudly,
We, our swords, to thee belong!
Life and living to thee giving,
We are all prepared to bleed:
Ready at each hour for dying,
Death, with all his wounds defying,
If our Fatherland it need.
He who feels not; he who zeals not,
In true worth to be arrayed,--
He shall not our bond dishonour;
This our Bride,[38]swear not upon her;
Nor the German sword degrade.
Song the proudest, swell it loudest;
Brave and German be we too;
See the consecrated band here,
As brave Burschen take your stand here,
And the free-cap strike ye through.
See it gleaming, softly beaming,
In my left this stain-free glave;
Thus I strike the cap through, swearing,
Honour bright for ever wearing,
Still to be a Bursché brave!
During the singing of the preceding stanzas, the two presidents hold their swords across each other, each holding his sword in his left hand, and placing the fingers of the right on it, to ratify the oath; and this being done, they pierce their caps through, and leave them hanging on the swords. While they do this, all sing:
Thus thou strik'st the cap through, swearing,Honour bright for ever wearing,--Still to be a Bursché brave!
Thus thou strik'st the cap through, swearing,Honour bright for ever wearing,--Still to be a Bursché brave!
Each president then sings thus to his next neighbour while he reaches him the cup:--
Drinker! swimming, bright o'erbrimming,Take this Fatherlandish cup!
Drinker! swimming, bright o'erbrimming,Take this Fatherlandish cup!
The presidents give their swords each to their next neighbours. These, who sit opposite to each other, have risen from their seats, and now hold the swords which they have received from the presidents, crossed, over the table. The presidents continue their song:
Thy left hand the keen sword bearing,Boring through the cap, and swearing--To thy country drink it up![Here they empty the cups.
Thy left hand the keen sword bearing,Boring through the cap, and swearing--To thy country drink it up!
[Here they empty the cups.
The two who have drunk now sing,--
See it gleaming, softly beaming,In my left this stain-free glave!
See it gleaming, softly beaming,In my left this stain-free glave!
All repeat--"See it gleaming, softly beaming," etc.
Each of the two individuals sings on:--
Thus I strike the cap through, swearing,Honour bright for ever wearing,Still to be a Bursché brave!
Thus I strike the cap through, swearing,Honour bright for ever wearing,Still to be a Bursché brave!
While all repeat this in chorus, the caps of the two are spitted on the swords to the former two. With the last words the presidents take back the swords, and as they hand the caps to the next two, sing, "Drinker! swimming, bright o'erbrimming," etc. So go the presidents, repeating the same ceremony with each opposite two, till they reach the bottom of the table. Here they exchange with each other the swords, on which the assembled caps are hanging, but without changing their respective sides of the table. As they do this each president sings:
Come thou, drawn sword, consecrated,Of freemen the weapon free!With transpierced cape thus freighted,Yield it solemnly to me.Let us gaily it discumber,Cover each one now his head;And unspotted in his bed,Till next feast-day let it slumber.All sing--Up! ye feast companions, guard them,All our hallowed rites and fair;All your heart and soul award them,As stout men should ever dare!To the feast, ye brothers valiant,--Worthy of your fathers, stand!And may he ne'er wield the brand,But who noble is and gallant!
Come thou, drawn sword, consecrated,
Of freemen the weapon free!
With transpierced cape thus freighted,
Yield it solemnly to me.
Let us gaily it discumber,
Cover each one now his head;
And unspotted in his bed,
Till next feast-day let it slumber.
All sing--Up! ye feast companions, guard them,
All our hallowed rites and fair;
All your heart and soul award them,
As stout men should ever dare!
To the feast, ye brothers valiant,--
Worthy of your fathers, stand!
And may he ne'er wield the brand,
But who noble is and gallant!
Each president now reaches across the table to the brother sitting opposite to him, his cap, which he has taken off the sword, and stretches the sword over his covered head; both the presidents singing:--
So take it back;--Thy head I now will cover,And stretch the sword it over,And live to this our Brother, hoch!A dog's-foot who insult him shall!Wherever we shall meet him,We'll aye, as Brother greet him,And live to this our Brother, hoch!
So take it back;--
Thy head I now will cover,
And stretch the sword it over,
And live to this our Brother, hoch!
A dog's-foot who insult him shall!
Wherever we shall meet him,
We'll aye, as Brother greet him,
And live to this our Brother, hoch!
While all are singing, the president reaches to him whose head he has covered, his right hand. The presidents thus gradually, and in succession, cover all heads, till they have again arrived at that place at the table where they have presided. Returned thither, they cover each other under the same ceremonies. In conclusion, all sing:--
Rest thee from the Burschen feast-rites,Now, thou dedicated brand,And be each one's high endeavour--Freedom for his Fatherland!Hail to him who still is hauntedWith his father's &me in field;And the sword may no one wield,But the noble and undaunted!
Rest thee from the Burschen feast-rites,
Now, thou dedicated brand,
And be each one's high endeavour--
Freedom for his Fatherland!
Hail to him who still is haunted
With his father's &me in field;
And the sword may no one wield,
But the noble and undaunted!
This is the simple description of a Commers, as it is now celebrated; and when we ask what it is which distinguishes the Commers from other festive meetings, the reply must be, that it consists in the singing of "The Landsfather," as its solemn and ceremonial conclusion. To this celebration we certainly are not at all disposed to refuse our approbation. It contributes strongly to maintain a unity amongst the students, divided and subdivided as they are into different Chores, and separated again from the private people--as the Camels, as a more polite name, are called. They contribute to bring back to the consciousness of every one, that Germany, though separated into so many states and territories, is yet One Germany! The hole which is pierced in the cap is at once a symbol of death of the Fatherland, and a memorial of Commers pleasures enjoyed in companionship with those of many names and places.
In order to bring under notice certain customs of the Commerses, which, however, are not general, and which in recent years at least have not been practised in Heidelberg, we may here give the regulations of the Beer-Comment thereupon, and which indeed take up the Comment, where it will be found left off at the end of this volume, and conclude it.
Section 142.--Beer-Burschen alone can preside, and out-to-be-fought Branders, who then, as presidents, have unlimited power. (By out-to-be-fought Branders, are to be understood those who, in this same Commers, shall be advanced to Young Burschen.)
Section 143.--The Beer-commers proceed in the following manner. After the presidents have cried, "ad loca!" and every one has seated himself, they command silence, and every one must pay the strictest attention to this command, upon which the song begins.
Section. 144.--When the song is ended, one of the presidents cries "Smollis, ye brother presidents," which is answered by the other presidents, with "FiducitandSmollis, gentlemen;" upon, which all the commanders answer "Fiducit."
Smollisis, in this place, a kind of salutation; whence comes the wordSmolliren, by which it is understood that the parties drink to a brotherhood; so that the two new friends or brothers, from this time forward, instead of the polite term "You," use to each other the familiar word "Thou." When two individualssmollirenwith each other, it is thus performed. The two kling, or touch their glasses together, drink them quite off, and then reach to each other the right hand, saying to each other, "Be thou my friend."
When this is done with a number in a Kneipe, they are accustomed, holding the glass in one hand, to link that arm with the other arm of the new Thou-brother, and thus turning and crossing to touch each other's glasses and drink them off, as already it is described in the Renommist.
The hands to the Smollis, entwined thus crossing--"Fiducit, Sir Brother," togetherantossing.[39]
The hands to the Smollis, entwined thus crossing--"Fiducit, Sir Brother," togetherantossing.[39]
It is the custom in some universities, that all students address each other with "thou." This is called the "Thou-comment," in contradistinction to others; as Heidelberg, where the "You-comment" is in use. But students who in any manner are often associated in parties of enjoyment, will soon become "Thou-brothers," and it arises of itself amongst those who are of the same Chore. Therein it is the custom that the younger student always offers the Smollis to the elder; if the contrary happens, it must be regarded as a peculiar favour. That in the very different paths of life which succeed the university-years, it must give occasion to some singular scenes, when the early university-companions, who so quickly knit this kind of bond of amity, in after-life find themselves together again, and are obliged to use towards each other their familiar "Thou," we may well imagine.
Section 145.--After this, the song is sung "The Foxes under the bann have gone." Upon which the Crass-Foxes, with bare heads, standing up, must each drink off half a choppin; the Brand-Foxes, with bare heads, sitting, must drink each a choppin.
Section 146.--When the song is sung, one president asks the rest, "Has any of the brother presidents any thing to dictate, or to recommend?" Whereupon, each of the presidents dictates or commands to them who have disturbed in any manner the song or the Commers. But they may not command to any one more than two choppins at one time.
Section 147.--If any one does not drink the quantity dictated to him within five minutes, the president has the right, without further proceeding, to write him down on the Beer-tablet as a Beer-schisser. The quantity which he has yet to drink is to be added to the four choppins. Yet is the Beer-schisser regarded during the Commers as Beer-honourable.
Section 148.--If the presidents declare that they have nothing further to recommend or to dictate, there follows a short pause, during which each Beer-Bursch can fore-drink to the presidents, what these have immediately to after-drink. But during this pause the quantity fore-drunken to any one of the presidents must not exceed four choppins.
Section 149.--If all is now drunk, the presidents may dictate nothing further, but they close the presidentship with the exclamation--"Ex est! Colloquium!"
Section 150.--There may be no fore-drinking during the presidentship, except to the presidents during the pause after their dictation and the commendation.
As already stated, these customs, which must always precede the singing of "The Landsfather," are not every where observed in Commers, and do not necessarily belong to them. In earlier times, the word Commers had a wider comprehension. It meant, in general, a convival meeting, in which a president had the direction and control of the singing and drinking. The meetings were often of a very rude character, and if we even do not hold up the Commerses of the present day as specimens of temperance, yet they acquire a nobler sentiment from the solemnity of "The Landsfather." To those earlier Commerses, rather than to the present, apply those satirical remarks in the Dissertation of the Old Schluck. He makes these observations:--
"A Commers is a drinking-meeting, in which a number of students elect one from amongst themselves, under whose presidency to sing and drink. The drinking goes on partly at their own cost, and partly at the cost of others. He who invites others, as guests, and pays the shot (schmaust),[40]is styled host, or hospes, from hoc and spes; as if some one should say, I have placed my hope on him. He who directs the drinking-meeting, is president.
"A Commers is more or less strict. It is a strict Commers when the members of the company mutually pledge themselves faithfully to perform whatever the president commands, be it even with danger of life. The signs of the unlimited power of the president, are--
"(1) A sceptre, generally a house-door key,[41]with which he either dispenses with drinking, or exhorts the delinquent to drink or sing, or finally points out the defaulters.
"(2) A naked sword, which is laid on the table, and with which the disobedient are compelled to obedience. Hereupon it is clear:
"(a) That no one, without the permission of the president, may stand up. If any one withdraws himself, without having asked permission aloud, he must, for his culpable stiffneckedness, drink from two to four glasses.
"(b) That no one may refuse to drink the glasses which are dictated to him, since, as shown above, he is pledged to obedience, even at the risk of his life.Quere--Can one who has drunken so much that he falls dead in the Commers be obliged to drink more?Answer--No! since death discharges all obligations."
These Commerses, of an earlier and ruder time, are discarded. In the Renommist such a one is described, and it concludes with these lines: