Hurrah! for the Friedlander's banner I'll follow!
SECOND YAGER
Foregad! a jolly companion, though.
[They salute him.
CITIZEN
He comes of good kin; now pray let him go.
FIRST YAGER
And we wern't found in the streets you must know.
CITIZEN
I tell you his wealth is a plentiful stock;
Just feel the fine stuff that he wears for a frock.
TRUMPETER
The emperor's coat is the best he can wear.
CITIZEN
To a cap manufactory he is the heir.
SECOND YAGER
The will of a man is his fortune alone.
CITIZEN
His grandmother's shop will soon be his own.
FIRST YAGER
Pish! traffic in matches! who would do't?
CITIZEN
A wine-shop his grandfather leaves, to boot,
A cellar with twenty casks of wine.
TRUMPETER
These with his comrades he'll surely share.
SECOND YAGER
Hark ye, lad – be a camp-brother of mine.
CITIZEN
A bride he leaves sitting, in tears, apart.
FIRST YAGER
Good – that now's a proof of an iron heart.
CITIZEN
His grandmother's sure to die with sorrow.
SECOND YAGER
The better – for then he'll inherit to-morrow.
SERGEANT (advances gravely, and lays his hand on the Recruit's tin cap)
The matter no doubt you have duly weighed,
And here a new man of yourself have made;
With hanger and helm, sir, you now belong
To a nobler and more distinguished throng.
Thus, a loftier spirit 'twere well to uphold —
FIRST YAGER
And, specially, never be sparing of gold.
SERGEANT
In Fortune's ship, with an onward gale,
My friend, you have made up your mind to sail.
The earth-ball is open before you – yet there
Naught's to be gained, but by those who dare.
Stupid and sluggish your citizen's found,
Like a dyer's dull jade, in his ceaseless round,
While the soldier can be whatever he will,
For war o'er the earth is the watchword still.
Just look now at me, and the coat I wear,
You see that the emperor's baton I bear —
And all good government, over the earth,
You must know from the baton alone has birth;
For the sceptre that's swayed by the kingly hand
Is naught but a baton, we understand.
And he who has corporal's rank obtained,
Stands on the ladder where all's to be gained,