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Es freit' ein alter Junggesell, Mit neugeschabtem Barte. Wie that er schön, wie guckt' er grell, Als man bei Tisch uns paarte! Laß ihn nur grell und artig sein, Und noch so glatt sich schaben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Er trug ein Kleid von altem Schnitt, Und seines Oheims Schnallen. Wie äugelt' er, wie macht' er mit, Dem Mädchen zu gefallen! Er mag um reiche Wittwen frein, Mit reichen Morgengaben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Mit seinem wohlersparten Gut Und seiner Tugend pral' er! Was kümmert mich sein falber Hut, Und seine blanken Thaler! Soll sich ein frisches Jüngferlein Am dürren Geize laben? Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben! Bald sezt er weiter seinen Stab, Um ehrenfest zu werben. Dann, Schwestern, fertigt flink ihn ab Mit nettgeflochtnen Körben! Laßt ihn bis gar zum Zipperlein Auf Freierfüßen traben! Nein, wahrlich nein! Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Confirmed with Sämtliche Gedichte von Johann Heinrich Voß, Auswahl der lezten Hand, Dritter Band, Königsberg: in der Universitäts-Buchhandlung, 1825, pages 150-151.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Der Korb", appears in Oden und Lieder, in Erstes Buch, no. 32 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-08
Line count: 32
Word count: 162
An old bachelor went a-wooing With a freshly-scraped chin. How prettily he behaved, how brightly he peered about, When we were paired at table! Just let him be bright and correct, And shave himself ever so closely! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! He wore a coat of outmoded cut, And his uncle’s shoe buckles. What eyes he made, how he joined in with everything In order to be pleasing to the maiden. Let him woo rich widows With generous dowries! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! Let him boast of his Carefully-saved money and his virtue! What do I care about his pallid hat And his shiny coins! Is a brisk young maiden To enjoy herself with desiccated greed? No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman! Soon he shall continue on his way In order to woo most honourably. Then, sisters, deal with him quickly With nicely phrased rebuffs! Let him tramp with his wooing feet Until his gout acts up! No, truly no! I do not want the gentleman!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Der Korb", appears in Oden und Lieder, in Erstes Buch, no. 32
Go to the general view
This text was added to the website: 2024-02-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 183