When mighty winter comes along,
Just like a leader, cheerful, strong
And hearty, sending us a greeting,
With shaggy troops of ice and snow,
The fireplace crackles at the meeting
And keeps the merry feast aglow.

The dreadful plague, that gruesome queen,
Now comes upon us, yet unseen,
And boasts a harvest rich, increasing.
Upon our windows day and night
It knocks with graveyard spades, unceasing!..
What can we do to help our plight?

As with the winter's crafty tricks,
Our doors against the plague we'll fix!
We'll light the fires and fill our glasses,
While merrily our minds are drowned.
Before the feasting revel passes,
The royal plague shall then be crowned!

In waging battle there is bliss,
As on the edge of an abyss,
And in the ocean's angry flowing,
Amidst its dark and stormy swell,
And in the tempest's mighty blowing,
And in the whiff of plague as well!

All, all that threatens and destroys
Conceals untold and boundless joys;
For mortal souls, perhaps this token:
A pledge of immortality!
And he who finds that pledge unspoken
There midst the storm shall happy be.

So plague, our praise upon you here!
Your gloomy grave brings us no fear;
Your call does not disturb our leisure!
We raise our bubbling glasses high,
Drink in the fragrant wine with pleasure,
And maybe there the plague may lie!