Brothers , hear my dreadful story —
Yesterday, in all my glory,
Drinking of the vine-juice free,
Death, my brothers, came to me!

Threat'ning, swung he round his sickle,
Down my cheeks the tears did trickle;
" Toper! hence, thou'st drank enough! "
Spoke that grisly phantom gruff.

Then I, weeping, cried — " Dear Death,
Why thus covet thou my breath?
See, the wine is standing with thee,
Drink, dear Death, and spare me, prithee! "

Laughing, seized he then the bowl,
Laughing, drank he off the whole;
To the Plague (his cousin) quaffed he,
Laying down the bowl, then laughed he.

Mirthful, then, I turned from moody,
But his fearful threats renewed he;
" Fool! is't for a drop of wine,
Think'st thou, I will thee resign? "

" Death, " I prayed, " 'twixt thee and me,
I would fain a Doctor be;
Leave me, and for this thy patience,
I will give thee half my patients! "

" Oh! if that be so (he cried),
You and I are near allied;
Live, my brother, live until
Thou hast loved and drank thy fill "

" Oh! what sounds of joy and mirth!
Death, thou hast renewed my birth;
Let us one bright goblet sip
To our future fellowship! "

Eternal must my life be now;
By the vintage god, I vow,
Ever must those joys be mine —
Wine and love, and love and wine!