The Peasants. [67]

Look outside, good friend, I pray!     Two whole mortal hours     Dogs and I've out here to-day     Waited, by the powers!     Rain comes down as from a spout,     Doomsday-storms rage round about,     Dripping are my hose;     Drenched are coat and mantle too,     Coat and mantle, both just new,     Wretched plight, heaven knows!     Pretty stir's abroad to-day;     Look outside, good friend, I pray!     Ay, the devil! look outside!     Out is blown my lamp,     Gloom and night the heavens now hide,     Moon and stars decamp.     Stumbling over stock and stone,     Jerkin, coat, I've torn, ochone!     Let me pity beg     Hedges, bushes, all around,     Here a ditch, and there a mound,     Breaking arm and leg.     Gloom and night the heavens now hide     Ay, the devil! look outside!     Ay, the deuce, then look outside!     Listen to my prayer!     Praying, singing, I have tried,     Wouldst thou have me swear?     I shall be a steaming mass,     Freeze to rock and stone, alas!     If I don't remove.     All this, love, I owe to thee,     Winter-bumps thou'lt make for me,     Thou confounded love!     Cold and gloom spread far and wide!     Ay, the deuce! then look outside!     Thousand thunders! what's this now     From the window shoots?     Oh, thou witch! 'Tis dirt, I vow,     That my head salutes!     Rain, frost, hunger, tempests wild,     Bear I for the devil's child,     Now I'm vexed full sore.     Worse and worse 'tis! I'll begone.     Pray be quick, thou Evil One!     I'll remain no more.     Pretty tumult there's outside!     Fare thee well I'll homeward stride.