Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
In Burano, wo an ihren Spitzen Hundert schöne Mädchen fleißig sitzen, Mit den weißen, allzu spitzen, raschen Fingern eilig fügen feine Maschen, Wo an wundervoll geschaffenen Stücken Fremde schöne Damen sich entzücken, In Burano bin ich heut gewesen, Ein Geschenk dir, Gina, zu erlesen. Ah wie glänzten die brillanten, frischen Zartgeblümten Zeuge auf den Tischen! Ah wie zart in tastend leisen Händen Fühlte ich der feinen Nähte Enden! Einen Spitzensaum und sieben Krägen Ließ ich sorgsam mir beiseite legen; Daß ein feiner Schmuck dich würdig ziere, Gab ich gerne sechzehnhundert Lire. Dann erschaute ich und ließ mir reichen Weiße Seidenkissen, die mit weichen Breiten Säumen edler Arbeit prangten, Säume, deren Fries von reichgerankten Spitzenkränzen und erhabnen Rosen Mir verlockend schien, darauf zu kosen Holde Liebesstunden. Zwölf Zechinen Zahlte ich für jedes Stück von ihnen. Eine Gondel ließ ich damit füllen Und mit starkem Segeltuch verhüllen. Diese Gondel, leider muß ich's sagen, Ward hinaus ins offene Meere verschlagen, Und ich fürchte, unsre schönen Sachen Werden nun den Fischen Freude machen. In den weißen Spitzenrankenkränzen Werden schlanke Silberfische schwänzen, Durch die Maschen, die so köstlich waren, Wird der Thunfisch und der Hering fahren, Und die seideweichen Liebeskissen Werden von der Störe Brut zerschlissen. Einzig eine kleine, arme Haube Blieb mir über und entging dem Raube. Nimm sie, Schönste, an der Schätze Stelle, Die mir tückisch stahl der Gott der Welle.
About the headline (FAQ)
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 84-85.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1902, appears in Unterwegs, in Venezianische Gondelgespräche, no. 3, first published 1911 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Richard Maux (1893 - 1971), "In Burano, wo an ihren Spitzen", op. 181 no. 13, published 1941 [ high voice or medium-high voice and piano ], from Italische Reise, no. 13 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "In Burano, where at their lacework", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "À Burano, où à leurs dentelles", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-24
Line count: 40
Word count: 228
In Burano, where at their lacework A hundred lovely maidens sit diligently, With their white, all-too-pointed, quick Fingers, rapidly working fine loops, There where beautiful foreign ladies Fall into raptures over such wondrously created pieces, [There] in Burano is where I was today, To choose a present, Gina, for you. Ah, how the brilliant, dainty pieces with their Delicately wrought flowers shone upon the tables! Ah, how gently in the tentative touch of my hands I felt the ends of the fine seams! A border of lace and seven collars I had them put aside for me carefully; So that fine adornment would worthily grace you, I gladly paid sixteen hundred lire. Then I spied and let them give me rich White silk pillows, resplendent with soft Wide borders of noble lace-work, Borders, whose baize of richly woven Lace wreaths and noble roses I found tempting for the passing of delightful Hours in caressing love. Twelve ducats I paid for every one of them. I had them fill a gondola with them And had it covered with a strong piece of sailcloth. This gondola, I must, alas, confess, Was driven off its course into the open sea, And I fear that our lovely things Are now making the fish happy. Slender silver fish shall now swank about In the white wreaths of lace collars, Through the loops that were so precious The tuna and the herring shall pass, And the silken soft pillows of love Shall be destroyed by the sturgeons’ brood. Only a single poor little bonnet Remained and escaped the plundering. Take it, most Beautiful One, in place of the treasures That the god of the waves spitefully stole from me.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1902, appears in Unterwegs, in Venezianische Gondelgespräche, no. 3, first published 1911
This text was added to the website: 2018-10-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 283