The wine-elate, without estate, And without castle 's rich and great. Yes, gods we are when wine flows clear, And old Olympus yet stands here. The wine-elate, etc. Join hand in hand; in Bacchus' land All men are free, and equal stand. O magic drink! thou noble wine! The golden age for ever's thine. Join hand in hand, etc. Freisleben.--Our absent friends shall live! (They touch glasses.) Mr. Traveller.--Will they return soon? Von Kronen.--We expect them to-morrow, and their Christmas presents, which their Frau Mamma and Mamsel have given them. Pittschaft will be well packaged again, who would not on any account fail to spend his Christmas-eve in his Father-city. Mr. Traveller.--The exchange of gifts at Christmas, as it is practised in Germany, pleases me much; and I am especially delighted with the Christ-tree. Von Kronen.--Have you seen the huge tree at the Sattlermüllerei,[45] where the Hanseatic students hold their Christmas? Mr. Traveller.--No. Do the students then also present each other with Christmas gifts? Von Kronen.--One or other of the Chores frequently amuse themselves with this sport. I recollect that a society to which I belonged agreed to exchange Christmas gifts, of which none was to cost more than six kreutzer--twopence English money. The most droll things imaginable were brought on the occasion. Hoffmann.--The glee-wine is famous; it warms one right through and through. Let us sing a beautiful song. He plays and all sing. TABLE-SONG. FROM GOETHE. Heavenly joy entrances me Far beyond exploring; Shall it one day bear me up To the star-lands soaring? Yet, in truth, remaining here, More is to my liking; By the wine-glass and the song-- On the table striking. Friends, I pray ye, wonder not At my thus deciding; For no blessing yet is like-- On the earth abiding. Therefore swear I solemnly, Without all concealing, That I shall not recklessly Out of life be stealing. But as here we all have met Time to speed with pleasure; Should, methinks, the Beakers chime To the Poet's measure. Good friends must, a hundred miles, Move from one another; Therefore you met here, stoest-an Brother as with Brother!