There seems to be some interest here on the 'Cat in the Latin drinking songs. Were they all German songs originally? If so, why did students in Germany choose to use Latin in these songs? Anybody know? Does anyone here speak or understand Latin?

The old Yale Songbook my grandmother used to sing from has only two songs in Latin:

LAURIGER

Lauriger Horatius, Quam dixisti verum
Fugit Eurocitius, Tempus e dax rerum

CHO: Ubisunt O pocula, Dulci ora mele
    Rixae pax et oscula, Rubentis puelae

Crescit uva molliter, Et puella crescit
Sed poeta turpitur, Sitiens canescit

CHO:

Quid juvat aeternitas, Nominis amare
Nisi terrae filias, Licet, et potare!

CHO:


GAUDEAMUS

Gaudeamus igitur, Juvenes dum sumus,
Gaudeamus igitur, Juvenes dum sumus,
Post jucundam juventutem, Post molestam senectutem,
Nos habebit humus
Nos habebit humus

There are eight(8!)more verses which I won't bother to print unless someone really wants them. (I only remember grandma singing the first verse -- usually repeating it once or twice.)

GAUDEAMUS is translated as:

Let us now in youth rejoice, none can justly blame us,
"   " "   "   "      "      "   "    "    "    ",
For when golden youth has fled, and in age our joys are dead,
Then the dust doth claim us,
"   "    "    "    "    "

(I have no idea how accurate the translation is.)

LAURIGER is translated as:

Poet of the laurel wreath, Horace, true thy saying,
Time outstrips the tempest's breath, for no mortal staying.

CHO: Bring me cups that Bacchus crowns, cups on mirth attending,
    Give me blushing maiden's frowns, frowns in kisses ending.

(I suspect the translator has taken a few liberties with this.)

There are also somewhat clever "paraphrased" lyrics:

1)Old man Horace, sprigged with bay, Truly you do say sir,
Time streaks faster on it's way, than 'two-forty' racer,

CHO: Give us but our rum to sip, We don't care a clam-shell,
    So we kiss the pouting lip, Of the bloomin damsel.

2)With bright beauty blush the grapes -- so the women show it,
Longing for their lovely shapes, Sings the tipsy poet.

3)Tell me what great fame avails, Save we can hug tightly,
All the jolly little 'quails,' And get somewhat 'slightly.'

[I fear I've gotten somewhat away from Vive L'Amour. Oh, well...

Reiver 2