Laudabunt Alii

Now let "welcome" be your word!
He who brings you tidings — I am he!
All that hitherto you've heard
Is mere empty air: come, question me!
Yet reward I covet;
If good meed I gain,
Soon I'll tell you what shall make your hearts full fain.
Say, what will ye give to prove it?

German ladies shall be told
Such a tale that they'll please all the earth
Even better than of old.
This I'll do for meed of little worth.
How should they reward me?
High o'er me are they;
So I'm courteous and for this alone will pray, —
That fair greeting they accord me.

Many lands I've seen and still
Gladly sought the best in every part.
May I meet with nought but ill
If I found that I could bring my heart
Ways of foreign nations
Ever to commend!
What would it avail me falsely to contend? —
Best of all are German fashions.

There, from Elbe to Rhine and then
Back once more here to Hungarian ground,
Surely dwell the best of men
That in all the world I yet have found.
Sweet ways and fair faces, —
If I'm judge of both,
Women here are better, I will take my oath,
Than they are in other places!

German men are gently bred;
Fair as angels are the maids designed.
He who blames them 's off his head!
There's no other reason I can find.
Love and worth excelling, —
If ye seek that pair,
Come into our land; 'tis ever merry there.
There I fain would make my dwelling!