“Max and Moritz” by Wilhelm Busch – Part Three

Last updated on July 1, 2018

Max und Moritz was initially rejected for publication, it was never meant to be a children’s book.  It was Busch’s publisher Kaspar Braun who suggested offering it through the children’s book division of his publishing house rather than in the pages of the satirical weekly, Fliegende Blätter, as Busch had suggested. Braun paid Busch 1000 guilders, the equivalent of about 2 years’ pay for a craftsman, for the rights to his manuscript.

For 150 years, “Max and Moritz” is one of the most read children’s book in the world. It has been translated in over 300 languages and dialects and has terrified and entertained millions of little boys and girls, just like me -so long ago.

In Scotland they are known as “Dod and Davie” in Wallonia they became “Simon et Lina” and Portuguese children know them as “Juca e Chico.” Max and Moritz are known in Japan and even a Hebrew translation of 1898 can be found.

Max and Moritz by Wilhelm Busch

Second Trick

When the worthy Widow Tibbets
(Whom the cut below exhibits)
Had recovered, on the morrow,
From the dreadful shock of sorrow,
She (as soon as grief would let her
Think) began to think ’twere better
Just to take the dead, the dear ones
(Who in life were walking here once),
And in a still noonday hour
Them, well roasted, to devour.
True, it did seem almost wicked,
When they lay so bare and naked,
Picked, and singed before the blaze,–
They that once in happier days,
In the yard or garden ground,
All day long went scratching round.

Ah ! Frau Tibbets wept anew,
And poor Spitz was with her, too.
Max and Moritz smelt the savor.
“Climb the roof!” cried each young shaver.

Through the chimney now, with pleasure,
They behold the tempting treasure,
Headless, in the pan there, Iying,
Hissing, browning, steaming, frying.

At that moment down the cellar
(Dreaming not what soon befell her)

Widow Tibbets went for sour
Kraut, which she would oft devour
With exceeding great deslre
(Warmed a little at the fire).
Up there on the roof, meanwhile,
They are doing things in style.
Max already with forethought
A long fishing-line has brought.

Schnupdiwup! a second bird!
Schnupdiwup! up comes the third!
Presto! number four they haul!
Schnupdiwup! we have them all!–
Spitz looks on, we must allow,
But he barks: Row-wow! Row-wow!

But the rogues are down instanter
From ths roof, and off they canter.–
Ha! I guess there’ll be a humming;
Here’s the Widow Tibbets coming!
Rooted stood she to the spot,
When the pan her vision caught.

Gone was every blessed bird!
“Horrid Spitz!” was her first word.

“O you Spitz, you monster, you!
Let me beat him black and blue!”

And the heavy ladle, thwack!
Comes down on poor Spitz’s back!
Loud he yells with agony,
For he feels his conscience free.

Max and Moritz, dinner over,
In a hedge, snored under cover;
And of that great hen-feast now
Each has but a leg to show.

This was now the second trick,
But the third will follow quick.