Читать книгу The Greatest German Classics (Vol. 1-14) - Various - Страница 1208

What worry must I, also, bear!

Our aim each day is still to spare—

And more each day we need; my pains,

Daily renewed, are never o'er.

The cooks lack nothing;—deer, wild-boar,

Stags, hares, fowls, turkeys, ducks and geese—

Tribute in kind, sure payment, these

Come fairly in, and none complains.

But now at last wine fails; and if of yore

Up-piled upon the cellar-floor,

Cask rose on cask, a goodly store,

From the best slopes and vintage; now

The swilling of our lords, I trow,

Unceasing, drains the very lees.

E'en the Town-council must give out

Its liquor;—bowls and cups they seize;

And 'neath the table lies the drunken rout.

Now must I pay, whate'er betides;

Me the Jew spares not; he provides

Anticipation-bonds which feed

Each year on that which must succeed;

The swine are never fattened now;

Pawned is the pillow or the bed,

And to the table comes fore-eaten bread.

EMPEROR (after some reflection, to MEPHISTOPHELES)

Say, fool, another grievance knowest thou?