by Benjamin Johan Feddersen (1823 - 1902)
Translation © by Nigel Parker

Jeg priser vort ringe, vort fattige Tag
Language: Danish (Dansk)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Jeg priser vort ringe, vort fattige Tag,
indtil jeg har fundet den Rette;
I Hytten hos Steffens blev aldrig en Dag
formørked ved Kiv og ved Trætte.

Hvad hjælper vel Rigdom, naar Barmen er fuld
af Angst og ulægelig Smerte,
hvad hjælper mig Stakkel det blændende Guld,
naar det ligger som Bly paa mit Hjerte.

Den Rige kan skaffe sig Vadmel og Skind
om Vintren, naar Stormerne tude,
men Solstraalen trænger desbedere ind
igjennem vor knækkede Rude.

Og hvis jeg skal ofre min Frihed og Fred
og binde mig fast til en Anden,
jeg gifter mig ikke medmindre jeg ved,
at jeg selv har lidt Godhed for Manden.

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Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Claras Sang (fra "Frieriet paa Helgoland")", alternate title: "Klaras sang af Frieriet paa Helgoland", EG 124 (1864) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Nigel Parker) , "Clara's song (from "The Wooing on Heligoland")", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-08-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 108

Clara's song (from "The Wooing on Heligoland")
Language: English  after the Danish (Dansk) 
I'm thankful for our poor and simple abode,
until I find the right man.
Here at Steffen's cottage never a day
has been darkened by argument or quarrel.

What use is riches, when my breast is full
of aching and inconsolable pain,
what use to poor me is shining gold,
when it lies like lead on my heart.

The rich man has woolens and furs
in winter, when the storms rage,
but the sun shines more readily in
through our broken window pane.

But if I must give up my peace and my freedom,
and accept his offer,
I will not marry unless I know with myself
that I have some affection for the man.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2011 by Nigel Parker, (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:

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This text was added to the website: 2011-08-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 115