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Es freit' ein alter Junggesell, Mit neugeschabtem Barte. Wie that er schön, wie [guckt']1 er grell, Als man bei Tisch uns paarte! Laß ihn nur grell und artig sein, Und noch so glatt sich schaben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Er trug ein Kleid von altem Schnitt, Und seines Oheims Schnallen. Wie äugelt' er, wie macht' er mit, [Dem]2 Mädchen zu gefallen! Er mag um reiche Wittwen frein, Mit reichen Morgengaben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Mit seinem wohlersparten Gut Und seiner Tugend pral' er! Was kümmert mich sein falber Hut, Und seine blanken Thaler! Soll sich ein frisches Jüngferlein Am dürren Geize laben? Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Bald sezt er weiter seinen Stab, Um ehrenfest zu werben. Dann, Schwestern, fertigt flink ihn ab Mit nettgeflochtnen Körben! Laßt ihn [bis gar]3 zum Zipperlein Auf Freierfüßen traben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Confirmed with Sämtliche Gedichte von Johann Heinrich Voß, Auswahl der lezten Hand, Dritter Band, Königsberg: in der Universitäts-Buchhandlung, 1825, pages 150-151.
1 Krufft: "kuckt"2 Krufft: "Den"
3 Krufft: "sogar"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Der Korb", appears in Oden und Lieder, in Erstes Buch, no. 32 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Der Korb", published 1799 [ voice and piano ], in Melodien zum Mildheimischen Liederbuche für das Piano-Forte oder Clavier, ed. by Rudolph Zacharias Becker, Gotha, in der Beckerischen Buchhandlung [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Hanke (1750 - 1803), "Der Korb", published 1797, from Gesänge und Lieder einheimischer Dichter für Kenner und Liebhaber, Hamburg, Gottlieb Friedrich Schniebes [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nikolaus, Freiherr von Krufft (1779 - 1818), "Der Korb", op. 2 (Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Klaviers), Heft 1 no. 6, published 1803 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Kunst und Industrie Comptoir [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1747 - 1800), "Der Korb", published 1791, Hamburg: C. E. Bohn [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The rebuff", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-08
Line count: 32
Word count: 158
An old bachelor went a-wooing With a freshly-scraped chin. How prettily he behaved, how brightly he peered about, When we were paired at table! Just let him be bright and correct, And shave himself ever so closely! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! He wore a coat of outmoded cut, And his uncle’s shoe buckles. What eyes he made, how he joined in with everything In order to be pleasing to the [maiden]1. Let him woo rich widows With generous dowries! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! Let him boast of his Carefully-saved money and his virtue! What do I care about his pallid hat And his shiny coins! Is a brisk young maiden To enjoy herself with desiccated greed? No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! Soon he shall continue on his way In order to woo most honourably. Then, sisters, deal with him quickly With nicely phrased rebuffs! Let him tramp with his wooing feet Until [his]2 gout acts up! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman!
1 Krufft: "maidens"
2 Krufft: "even his"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Der Korb", appears in Oden und Lieder, in Erstes Buch, no. 32
This text was added to the website: 2024-02-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 179