Das Bad am Samstagabend
Das Bad am Samstagabend ("Saturday Night Bath") is a picture story in 14 drawings by Wilhelm Busch, first published in 1868.
The story is in German, in rhymed, iambic meter verse. A non-rhyming English translation is provided below.
Synopsis
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The protagonists of the story are the two brothers Franz (chubby) and Fritz (skinny), who are given a bath together. As soon as they are alone, they begin to do mischief. Their fun gradually escalates into a fight. At the end, the bathtub tumbles over, creating a big mess. The boys are put to bed, and the moral of the story says: don't bathe two in one tub together. There is no spanking in the story, but some bare bottom imagery. Also, both boys receive a burn on their bottoms when they tumble out of the tub (instead of the spanking they deserve, as it were). |
The story
| Hier sieht man Bruder Franz und Fritzen Zu zweit in einer Wanne sitzen. |
Here you can see brother Franz and Fritz Sitting together in a tub. |
| Die alte Lene geht; - und gleich Da treibt man lauter dummes Zeug. |
Old Lene leaves; - and at once Lots of nonsense is done. |
| Denn Reinlichkeit ist für die zwei Am Ende doch nur Spielerei.- |
For cleanliness, for the two, Ends up to nothing but a game.- |
| Jetzt will der Fritz beim Untertauchen Nur seinen einen Finger brauchen. |
Now Fritz, when they submerge, Wants to use only one of his fingers. |
| Natürlich läuft ihm was ins Ohr. Dem Franz kommt dieses lustig vor. |
Of course water gets into his ear. Franz has a good laugh at this. |
| Das ärgert aber Bruder Fritzen, Drum fängt er an, den Franz zu spritzen. |
This however annoys brother Fritz, Which is why he begins to squirt Franz. |
| Doch der mit seiner großen Zehe Tut Fritzen an der Nase wehe; |
Yet he, with his big toe, Hurts Fritz's nose. |
| Dafür taucht Fritz den Kopf ihm nieder, Was so im Wasser sehr zuwider. |
For that, Fritz dips his head down, Which is quite unpleasing under water. |
| Franz aber zieht an Fritzens Bein; Der zappelt sehr und kann nicht schrei'n. |
Franz, in turn, pulls Fritz's leg; Who fidgets much but cannot cry. |
| In Mund und Auge, zornentbrannt, Greift jetzt die rachbegier'ge Hand. |
In mouth and eye, in burning fury, The vengeful hand grips. |
| Die Wanne wird zu enge Für dieses Kampfgedränge. |
The tub becomes too tight For the jostle of this fight. |
| Perdatsch!! - Die alte, brave Lene Kommt leider grad' zu dieser Szene. |
Splash!! - Dear good old Lene Unfortunately enters just at this scene. |
| Sie spricht voll Würde und voll Schmerz: "Die Reinlichkeit ist nicht zum Scherz!!" |
She speaks with dignity and pain: "Cleanliness is not a game!!" |
| Und die Moral von der Geschicht: Bad zwei in einer Wanne nicht! |
And the moral of the story is: Don't bathe two in one tub together! |
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