leasures of illicit intercourse and their
consequences, which make also a favourite theme of the common English
and German ballads, are often grossly described; and we may conclude
that the talent of extemporizing, or in general making pretty verses,
has forsaken the female villagers in this German neighbourhood, and
passed over to the men.

We give here two characteristic ballads of the Upper Lusatian
language.

THE ORPHAN'S LAMENT.[63]

Far more unhappy in the world am I,
Than on the meadow the bird that doth fly.

Little bird merrily flits to and fro,
Sings its sweet carol upon the green bough.

I, alas, wander wherever I will,
Every where I am desolate still!

No one befriends me, wherever I go.
But my own heart full of sorrow and woe!

Cease thy grief, oh my heart, full of grief,
Soon will a time come that giveth thee relief.

Never misfortune has struck mo so hard,
But I ere long again better have fared.

God of all else in the world has enough;
Why not then widows and orphans enough?[64]

GOOD ADVICE FOR LADS.

Let him who would married be,
Look about him and take care,
That he does not take a wife,
Take a wife;
He'll repent it till his life.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take too young a wife,
Youthful wife has boiling blood,
Boiling blood;
No one thinks of her much good.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take too old a wife,
In the house she'll creep about,
Creep about;
And will frighten people out.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take a handsome wife,
Nought but trouble she will give,
Trouble give;
Others' visits she'll receive.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take too short a wife,
Lowly thou must stoop to her,
Stoop to her,
Wouldst thou whisper in her ear.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take too tall a wife,
Ladders thou to her must raise,
Ladders raise,
If thou wouldst thy wife embrace.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst take a snarling wife,
Thou wilt want no dog in the house,
Dog in the house;
Thy wife will be the dog in the house.

As for poor ones, let them be,
Nothing they will bring to thee,
Every thing will wanting be,
Wanting be;
Not a soul will come to thee.

If thou shouldst make up thy mind,
And shouldst ta