by
Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
Damendienst
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG FRE
Die Schleppe will ich dir tragen,
Ich will [deinem Wink]1 mich weihn,
An Festen und hohen Tagen
Sollst du meine [Königin]2 sein!
Deiner Launen [geheimste und kühnste]3
Gehorsam erfüll ich dir;
Doch leid ich in diesem Dienste
Keinen andern neben mir.
Solang ich dir diene in Ehren,
Gehöret dein Lächeln mein;
Deinen Hofstaat will ich vermehren;
Doch der Erste will ich sein.
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with: Theodor Storm, Gesammelte Werke, with an introduction by Dr. Karl Weitzel, Volume 2, Leipzig: Verlag der Literaturwerke "Minerva" R. Max Lippold, [no year], page 1187.
1 Decker: "deinem Dienst"
2 Decker: "Kön'gin"
3 Decker: "geheimste, kühnste"
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Service to a lady", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Service d'une Dame", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-01-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 62
Service to a lady
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
I wish to carry your train,
I wish to dedicate myself to your [every hint]1,
At festivals and holidays
You shall be my queen!
The most [secret and audacious]2 of your whims
I shall obediently fulfill;
But I shall not tolerate anyone
Besides me to be in your service.
As long as I serve you in honour,
Your smiles belong to me;
I wish to enlarge your court;
But I wish to be its primary member.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 von Decker: "service"
2 von Decker: "most secret, most audacious"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Damendienst"
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 76