The Ambassador’s Servant

/ German Humor, What Makes People Laugh / By

Baron von Borf was an ambassador of the king of Sweden. He came to Berlin to see the King of Prussia. A minister of the king received him. Finally the ambassador said, “I need a servant here in Berlin.” The minister said, “Take Johann, one of the King’s servants; he is not intelligent, but he is very faithful.” “The faithfulness of a servant is enough,” the ambassador answered, and thanked the minister. Johann became the ambassador’s servant. 

One day the ambassador visited the king’s minister. He was already seated in the wagon, when he asked: “Johann, do you have the cards?” “No,” Johann answered. “Then run into the house quickly and fetch them. They’re lying on the table of my workroom.” Johann ran into the ambassador’s house and quickly came back again.

The carriage went. They stopped in front of the minister’s house, and the ambassador made his visit. Many ministers were in the country in the summer. This time the ambassador stayed in the carriage and Johann went into the house with the cards.

Finally the carriage stopped in front of the chancellor’s house. The chancellor’s family was also in the country. The ambassador said to his servant, “Johann, give the chancellor’s servant three cards: one for the chancellor and two for the ladies of the house.” 

“That’s impossible,” said Johann. “I have only two cards now: the Queen of Hearts and the King of Clubs!”

Baron von Borf war Botschafter des Königs von Schweden. Er kam nach Berlin zu dem König von Preußen. Ein Minister des Königs empfing ihn. Endlich sagte der Botschafter: “Hier in Berline brauche ich einen Diener.” Der Minister sagte: “Nehmen Sie Johann, einen Diener des Königs; er ist nicht klug, aber er ist  treu.” “Die Treue eines Dieners ist genug,” antwortete der Botschafter und dankte dem Minister. Johann wurde de Diener des Botschafters.

Eines Tages besuchte der Botschafter die Minister des Königs. Er saß schon im Wagen, da fragte er: “Johann, haben Sie die Karten?” “Nein,” antwortete Johann. “Dann laufen Sie schnell in das Haus, und holen Sie sie. Sie liegen auf dem Tisch meines Arbeitzimmers.” Johann lief in das Haus des Botschafters und was schnell wieder da.

Der Wagen fuhr. Vor den Häusern der Minister hielten sie, und der Botschafter machte seine Besuche. Viele Minster ware nim Sommer auf dem Lande. Dann blieb der Botschafter  im Wagen und Johann ging mit den Karten ins Haus.
Endlich hielt der Wagen vor dem Hause des Kanzlers. Die Familie des Kanzlers war auch auf dem Lande. Der Botschafter sagte zu seinen Diener: “Johann, geben Sie dem Diener des Kanzlers drei Karten: eine für den Kanzler un zwei für die Damen des Hauses.” “Das is unmöglich,” antwortete Johann, “ ich habe nur noch zwei Karten: Herz-Dame und Kreuz-König!”

Source

DeVries, Louis. Introduction to German. New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc., 1943.

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Fanni is Radnóti's wife
Located near the Tang capital city of Chang’an, site of the modern city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, in central China.
Soldiers of that time commonly wore a white head cloth, similar to what is still worn by some peasants in China today.  The implication is that the conscripts were so young that they didn’t know how to wrap their head cloths, and needed help from elders.
Before China’s unification under the Qin dynasty in 221 B.C. there were several competing smaller kingdoms.  Han and Qin were two of these kingdoms. Han was located east of famous mountain passes that separated that area from the power base of the Qin dynasty, with its capital in Chang’an. The Qin dynasty itself only lasted about 15 years after unification due to its draconian rule, but soldiers under Qin rule retained a reputation as strong fighters.
The area of Guanxi, meaning “west of the passes”, refers to the area around the capital city of Chang’an.
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Oulart Hollow was the site of a famous victory of the Irish rebels over British troops, which took place on May 27, 1798. The rebels killed nearly all the British attackers in this battle. (Source: Maxwell, W. H. History of the Irish Rebellion in 1798. H. H. Bohn, London 1854, pp 92-93, at archive.org)
The phrase "United Men" is elaborated upon in the Notes section below.

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"The Currency"

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رحلنا

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Habibi

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Ra7eel

Ra7eel, or "raheel," means "departure."

3awda

3awda, or "awda," means "returning."

أهلاً

أهلاً, or "ahalan," means "welcome."

a5 ya baba

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golpe

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Carlos

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