Heinz von Stein

Jakob Victor Scheffel

Ourode from his wild dark castle
The terrible Heinz von Stein:
He came to the door of a tavern,
And gazed at the swinging sign.

He sat himself down at a table,
And growled for a bottle of wine;
Up came, with a flask and a corkscrew,
A maiden of beauty divine.

Then, seized with a deep love-longing,
He uttered, "0, damosell mine.
Suppose you just give a few kisses
To the valorous Ritter von Stein."

But she answered, "The kissing business
Is entirely out of my line;
And I certainly will not begin it
On a countenance ugly as thine."

0, then the bold knight was angry.
And cursed both coarse and fine;
And asked, " How much is the swindle
For your sour and nasty wine?"

And fiercely he rode to the castle.
And sat himself down to dine;
And this is the dreadful legend
Of the terrible Heinz von Stein.