The lovely land of wine and melody.
[He sings.] There was a king in old times
That had a huge big flea—
Frosch.
Ha, ha! a flea!—he seems a man of taste!
A flea, I wis, is a most dainty guest?
Mephistopheles. [sings again]
There was a king in old times
That had a huge big flea,
As if it were his own son,
He loved it mightily.
He sent out for the tailor,
To get it a suit of clothes;
He made my lord a dress-coat,
He made him a pair of hose.
Brander.
Be sure that Monsieur le Tailleur be told
To take his measure most exact and nice,
And as upon his head he puts a price,
To make the hose without or crease or fold!
Mephistopheles.
In velvet and in silk clad
He strutted proudly then,
And showed his star and garter
With titled gentlemen.
Prime minister they made him,
With cross and ribbon gay,
And then all his relations
At court had much to say.
This caused no small vexation
At court; I tell you true—
The queen and all her ladies
Were bitten black and blue.
And yet they durst not catch them,
Nor crack them, when they might,
But we are free to catch them,
And crack them when they bite.
Chorus. [shouting]
But we are free to catch them
And crack them when they bite!
