After this song the same order as before was continued, except that students from the different societies made short speeches, accompanied by some toast or sentiment.  One spoke of Germany—­predicting that all her dissensions would be overcome, and she would rise up at last, like a phoenix among the nations of Europe; and at the close gave ’strong, united, regenerated Germany!’ Instantly all sprang to their feet, and clashing the glasses together, gave a thundering “hoch!” This enthusiasm for their country is one of the strongest characteristics of the German students; they have ever been first in the field for her freedom, and on them mainly depends her future redemption.

Cloths were passed around, the tables wiped off, and preparations made to sing the “Landsfather” or consecration song.  This is one of the most important and solemn of their ceremonies, since by performing it the new students are made burschen, and the bands of brotherhood continually kept fresh and sacred.  All became still a moment, then they commenced the lofty song: 

    “Silent bending, each one lending
      To the solemn tones his ear,
    Hark, the song of songs is sounding—­
    Back from joyful choir resounding,
      Hear it, German brothers, hear!

    “German proudly, raise it loudly,
      Singing of your fatherland—­
    Fatherland! thou land of story,
    To the altars of thy glory
      Consecrate us, sword in hand!

    “Take the beaker, pleasure seeker,
      With thy country’s drink brimmed o’er! 
    In thy left the sword is blinking. 
    Pierce it through the cap, while drinking
      To thy Fatherland once more!”

With the first line of the last stanza, the Presidents sitting at the head of the table, take their glasses in their right hands, and at the third line, the sword in their left, at the end striking their glasses together and drinking.

    “In left hand gleaming, thou art beaming,
      Sword from all dishonour free! 
    Thus I pierce the cap, while swearing,
    It in honor ever wearing,
      I a valiant Bursch will be!”

They clash their swords together till the third line is sung, when each takes his cap, and piercing the point of the sword through the crown, draws it down to the guard.  Leaving their caps on the swords, the Presidents stand behind the two next students, who go through the same ceremony, receiving the swords at the appropriate time, and giving it back loaded with their caps also.  This ceremony is going on at every table at the same time.  These two stanzas are repeated for every pair of students, till all have gone through with it, and the Presidents have arrived at the bottom of the table, with their swords strung full of caps.  Here they exchange swords, while all sing: