Once seven Swabians were together: Herr Schulz, Jackli, Marli, Jergli, Michal, Hans, and Veitli. They decided to travel the world seeking adventure and performing great deeds. For safety, they had a single, very long spear made. All seven held it, with the bravest, Herr Schulz, in front and Veitli at the rear.
One July evening, as they crossed a meadow, a large beetle or hornet buzzed threateningly from a bush. Herr Schulz was terrified. "Listen!" he shouted. "Good heaven, I hear a drum!" Jackli, behind him, said, "I can smell powder and fuses!" Hearing this, Herr Schulz ran and jumped over a fence, landing on a rake. The handle struck his face. "Oh dear!" he screamed. "Take me prisoner! I surrender!"
The other six jumped after him, each crying, "If you surrender, I surrender too!" But there was no enemy to capture them. Realizing their mistake, they swore to keep the story secret to avoid ridicule, then traveled onward.
Their second adventure was even more absurd. Days later, they saw a hare sleeping in a field, its ears up and eyes open. Terrified of this "wild beast," they feared running would cause it to chase and devour them. "We must fight a great battle," they declared. "Well begun is half done!"
Again, they took up the spear. Herr Schulz tried to hold back, while Veitli at the rear grew bold and shouted:
Strike out, in every Swabian's name,
Or else I wish that you be lame.
Hans retorted:
Thunder and lightning, you're one to brag,
But at dragon hunting you always lag.
Michal cried, "The devil himself is there!" Jergli added, "If not him, it's his mother or the devil's stepbrother." Marli urged Veitli forward, but Veitli refused. Jackli said, "Let Herr Schulz be number one. That's an honor he has won." Finally, Herr Schulz took courage: "Boldly then, we go to war. Then all will know how brave we are."
They attacked the "dragon." Herr Schulz crossed himself and prayed, but as he neared the enemy, he screamed in fear, "Oh, oh, oh, oh!" This awakened the hare, which darted swiftly away. Seeing it flee, Herr Schulz shouted joyfully, "Quick, Veitli, look there! The monster is a hare!"
The band of Swabians then continued their journey in search of further adventure.