by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)
Du hast zwei Ohren und Einen Mund
Language: German (Deutsch)
Du hast zwei Ohren und Einen Mund; Willst du's beklagen? Gar vieles sollst du hören, und Wenig d'raus sagen. Du hast zwei Augen und Einen Mund; Mach dir's zu eigen! Gar manches sollst du sehen, und Manches verschweigen. Du hast zwei Hände und Einen Mund; Lern' es ermessen! Zweie sind da zur Arbeit, und Einer zum Essen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Drei Paare und Einer" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Eduard August Grell (1800 - 1886), "Drei Paare und Einer", op. 61 (Zehn dreistimmige Lieder für 2 Sopran und Alt) no. 7, published 1884 [ vocal trio for 2 sopranos and alto ], Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard August Grell (1800 - 1886), "Zwei Paare und Einer", op. 23 (Sechs Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 6, published 1843 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eugen Hildach (1849 - 1924), "Drei Paare und Einer", op. 29 no. 3 [ voice and piano ], from Für die singende Kinderwelt. Eine Sammlung von 16 Liedern, no. 3, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Petrus Augustus de Genestet) , "Drie paren en een"
- ENG English (George MacDonald) , "Three pairs and one", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-08-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 57
Three pairs and one
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
You have two ears -- and but one mouth: Let this, friend, be a token -- Much should be heard, And not so much be spoken. You have two eyes -- and but one mouth: That is an indication -- Much must you see, But little serves relation. You have two hands -- and but one mouth: Receive the hint you meet with -- For labour, two, But only one to eat with.
Confirmed with George MacDonald, Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1897, p. 101.
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
Authorship:
- by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905), "Three pairs and one", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Drei Paare und Einer"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2014-07-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 67