by
Leopold Feldmann (1802 - 1882)
Der Winter
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG ITA SPA
Der Winter ist ein böser Gast, ich fürcht ihn gleich Gespenster,
Die schönste Aussicht raubt er mir durch seine Doppelfenster;
Was nützen mir die Blumen all', die er aufs Fenster malt,
Wenn nicht der Blumen Königin dem Aug' entgegenstrahlt.
Der Winter ist ein schlimmer Mann, ich fürcht ihn gleich der Sünde,
Er blendet alle Augen ja mit seiner weißen Binde;
Was nützet mir das weiße Kleid in ihres Fensters Näh',
Seh ich die Holde selber nicht im zarten Negligée.
Der Winter ist ein feiner Hecht, ich fürcht ihn gleich dem Tode,
Der ganzen Welt macht er was weiß, das wurde längst zur Mode;
Was nützet solche Weisheit mir, der es an Licht gebricht,
Seh' ich das strahlend' Augenpaar am Doppelfenster nicht.
Der Winter ist ein grimmig Thier, ich fürcht' ihn gleich dem Fluche;
Er tödtet alle Wärme ja mit seinem Leichentuche;
Was nützet mir das schöne Kind am hohen Fensterlein,
Dringt jene rauhe Kälte auch, ins Herz der Holden ein!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• J. Lang J. Lang sets stanzas 1, 3, 4
View text with all available footnotes
Confirmed with Der Bazar für München und Bayern. Ein Frühstücks-Blatt für Jedermann und jede Frau, Nro. 292 (12. Dezember 1833), page 1172.
Text Authorship:
Go to the general view
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 166
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Winter is an wicked guest, I fear him as much as I fear ghosts,
He robs me of the most beautiful view by the double-paned windows he creates through frost;
Of what use to me are the flowers crystals that he paints on the window,
If the queen of flowers does not glow before my eyes!
Winter is a nasty man, I fear him as much as I fear sin,
He dazzles all eyes with his white blindfold;
Of what use to me is the white dress near her window,
If I do not see the lovely one herself in a delicate negligée.
Winter is an arrogant chap, I fear him as much as I fear death,
He whitewashes the whole world; that has long been the fashion;
Of what use to me is that sort of wisdom, which lacks illumination,
When I cannot see the radiant pair of eyes at the double-paned window.
Winter is a fierce animal, I fear him as much as a curse;
He kills all warmth for me with his shroud;
Of what use to me is the beautiful child at the window on high,
If that rough coldness also penetrates into the lovely one's heart!
View text with all available footnotes
Note to stanza 3, line 2: "whitewashes the whole world" is a literal translation; this is actually a pun -- "jemandem etwas weis machen" means "to fool someone"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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:
Go to the general view
This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 204
