Charles Godfrey Leland

  • Hans Breitmann’s Party

    Hans Breitmann gife a barty,
      Dey had biano-blayin;
    I felled in lofe mit a Merican frau,
      Her name was Madilda Yane.
    She had haar as prown ash a pretzel,
      Her eyes vas himmel-plue,
    Und ven dey looket indo mine,
      Dey shplit mine heart in...

  • Ritter Hugo

    Der noble Ritter Hugo
      Von Schwillensanfenstein
    Rode out mit shpeer und helmet,
      Und he coom to de panks of de Rhine.

    Und oop dere rose a meermaid,
      Vot hadn’t got nodings on,
    Und she say, “O, Ritter Hugo,
      Vare you goes mit yourself...

  • The Two Friends

    I have two friends—two glorious friends—two better could not be,
    And every night when midnight tolls they meet to laugh with me.

    The first was shot by Carlist thieves—ten years ago in Spain.
    The second drowned near Alicante—while I alive remain.

    I love to see...

  • El Capitan-General

    There was a captain-general who ruled in Vera Cruz,
    And what we used to hear of him was always evil news:
    He was a pirate on the sea—a robber on the shore,
    The Señor Don Alonzo Estabán San Salvador.

    There was a Yankee skipper who round about did roam;
    ...