Süsse Bettelei
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Ein Bettler klopft' ich bei Dir an
Um einen Kuß -- Du gabst ihn mir!
Ein Bettler kehrt' ich ein bei Dir,
Und kam hervor ein reicher Mann,
So reich am höchsten Glück der Welt,
Daß alles Gold und alles Geld
Nicht solche Schätze kaufen kann!
Doch, ob des Augenblicks Genuß
Mein ganzes Leben auch verschönt,
Hat mich Dein Geben so verwöhnt,
Daß ich stets weiter flehen muß
Um einen Kuß -- und nimmer frei
Wirst Du nun dieser Bettelei
Um einen Kuß! um einen Kuß!
Confirmed with Altes und Neues. Gedichte von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei (R. Decker), 1859, page 110.
Note to stanza 2, line 6: The word "dieser" is incorrectly given as "diese" in some editions of the poem.
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) , "Sweet begging", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2021-08-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 84
Sweet begging
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
As a beggar I knocked at your door,
[Begging] for a kiss -- you gave it to me!
As a beggar I entered your abode,
And emerged a rich man,
So rich in the greatest happiness on earth,
That all gold and all money
Cannot buy such treasures!
Yet, although through the momentary pleasure
My whole life was beautified,
Your giving spoiled me so much
That must ever continue to plead
For a kiss -- and nevermore shall you
Be free now of this begging
For a kiss! for a kiss!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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:
This text was added to the website: 2022-05-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 89