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! Frosch. Bravo, bravo!--his voice is quite divine. Siebel. Such fate may every flea befall! Brander. Point your nails and crack 'em all! Altmayer. A glass to liberty!--long live the vine! Mephistopheles. I'd drink to liberty with right good will, If we had only better wine to drink. Siebel. You might have kept that to yourself, I think! Mephistopheles. I only fear our host might take it ill, Else should I give to every honored guest From our own cellar of the very best. Siebel. O never fear!--If you but find the wine, Our host shall be content--the risk be mine! Frosch. Give me a flowing glass, and praise you shall not want, So that your sample, mark me! be not scant; I cannot judge of wine, unless I fill My mouth and throat too with a goodly swill. Altmayer. [_softly_] I see the gentlemen are from the Rhine. Mephistopheles. Give me a gimlet here!--I'll show you wine. Brander. What would the fellow bore? Has he then wine-casks at the door? Altmayer. There, in the basket, you will find a store Of tools, which our good landlord sometimes uses. Mephistopheles. [_Taking the gimlet._] [_To_ /Frosch/.] Now every man may taste of what he chooses. Frosch. How mean you that? Can you afford? Mephistopheles. No fear of that; my cellar is well stored. Altmayer. [_to_ /Frosch/] Aha! I see you smack your lips already. Frosch. I'll have Rhine wine; what fatherland produces Is better far than French or Spanish juices. Mephistopheles. [_boring a hole in the edge of the table where /Frosch/ is sitting_] Fetch me some wax, to make the stoppers ready. Altmayer. He means to put us off with jugglery. Mephistopheles. [_to_ /Brander/] And you, sir, what? Brander. Champagne for me! And brisk and foaming let it be! [/Mephistopheles/ _bores; meanwhile one of the party has got the stoppers ready, and closes the holes._ Brander. To foreign climes a man must sometimes roam, In quest of things he cannot find at home; For Frenchmen Germans have no strong affection, But to their wines we seldom make objection. Siebel. [_while_ /Mephistopheles/ _is coming round to him_] I have no taste for your sour wines to-day, I wish to have a swig of good Tokay. Mephistopheles. [_boring_] That you shall have, and of the very best. Altmayer. No, gentlemen!--'tis plain you mean to jest; If so, in me you much mistake your man.