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In poetischer Epistel Ruft ein desperater Wicht: Lieber Vetter! Vetter Christel! Warum schreibt Er aber nicht? Weiß Er doch, es lassen Herzen, Die die Liebe angeweht, Ganz und gar nicht mit sich scherzen, Und nun vollends ein Poet! Denn ich bin von dem Gelichter, Dem der Kopf beständig voll; Bin ich auch nur halb ein Dichter, Bin ich doch zur Hälfte toll. Amor hat Ihn mir verpflichtet, Seinen Lohn weiß Er voraus, Und der Mund, der Ihm berichtet, Geht dabei auch leer nicht aus. Pass' Er denn zur guten Stunde, Wenn Sein Schatz durch's Lädchen schaut, Lock' ihr jedes Wort vom Munde, Das mein Schätzchen ihr vertraut. Schreib' Er mit dann von dem Mädchen Ein halb Dutzend Bogen voll, Und daneben ein Tractätchen, Wie ich mich verhalten soll!
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Auftrag" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Auftrag", from Mörike-Lieder, no. 50
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Encàrrec", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Instructions", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Ordre", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Stéphane Goldet) (Pierre de Rosamel) , "Requête", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Hamutal Atariah) , "משימה", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Incarico", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 128
In a poetic epistle a desperate wretch makes this appeal: Dear cousin, Cousin Christel, Why do you never write? Don't you realize that hearts overcome by love are no laughing matter particularly when they belong to a poet? For I am one of those whose head is constantly full. If I am only half a poet the other half is mad. Amor has committed you to me, you know his pay rate in advance and the mouth that informs you will not go away empty-handed either. If you happen to be passing just when Your own treasure is looking out Get her to repeat every word that my little treasure confided to her. Then you can write these words from the girl filling half a dozen sheets of paper in addition to an essay explaining how I ought to behave, how I ought to behave.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Malcolm Wren, (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 Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Auftrag"
This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 24
Word count: 145