The
Kaiser approached with a stealthy foot
His men on their quiet couches,
And slipped a ducat with deft despatch
Into every one of their pouches.
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I
was greatly astonished and stared in surprise,
But he smirked and explained, " My plan is
To pay them thus every hundred years;
The wage a ducat per man is."
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In
the hall where steeds by the thousand stood,
Each silent beside its manger,
The Kaiser merrily rubbed his hands—
His manner was even stranger.
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He
counted them over, one by one,
And poked their ribs, approving;
He counted and counted, with anxious haste
His eager lips kept moving.
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"The
number, alas! is not yet complete,"
He sighed, his brow grown gloomy.
"Of soldiers and weapons I've more than enough,
But the horses would undo me.
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"It
is true there's a goodly number there,
And dealers, charged to supply me
With more, are scouring the earth—I want
The best that money can buy me;
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"But
the tale is not yet complete, when it is
I will strike my blow belated
For my Fatherland and my German folk,
That so long have wearily waited."
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The
Emperor paused, and I eagerly cried,
"Nay, strike at once; time passes.
If horses, old fellow, are all you want,
In their stead you can surely use asses."
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Barbarossa
returned, with an easy laugh,
"As to time, we need not worry.
Rome was not built in a day; no good
Has ever resulted from hurry.
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"He
comes to-morrow who comes not to-day;
The oak is long in the growing;
And chi va piano, va sano is true
By the Roman proverb's showing .
