by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956)
Translation © by Knut W. Barde

Fragen eines lesenden Arbeiters
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Wer baute das siebentorige Theben?
In den Büchern stehen die Namen von Königen.
Haben die Könige die Felsbrocken herbeigeschleppt? 
Und das mehrmals zerstörte Babylon -
Wer baute es so viele Male auf? In welchen Häusern
Des goldstrahlenden Lima wohnten die Bauleute?
Wohin gingen an dem Abend, wo die Chinesische Mauer fertig war
die Maurer? Das große Rom
Ist voll von Triumphbögen. Wer errichtete sie? Über wen
triumphierten die Cäsaren? Hatte das vielbesungene Byzanz
nur Paläste für seine Bewohner? Selbst in dem sagenhaften Atlantis
brüllten in der Nacht, wo das Meer es verschlang
die Ersaufenden nach ihren Sklaven.

Der junge Alexander eroberte Indien.
Er allein?
Cäsar schlug die Gallier.
Hatte er nicht wenigstens einen Koch, bei sich?
Philipp von Spanien weinte, als seine Flotte
Untergegangen war. Weinte sonst niemand?
Friedrich der Zweite siegte im Siebenjährigen Krieg. Wer
Siegte außer ihm?

Jede Seite ein Sieg.
Wer kochte den Siegesschmaus?
Alle zehn Jahre ein großer Mann.
Wer bezahlte die Spesen?

So viele Berichte.
So viele Fragen.

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

  • ENG English (Knut W. Barde) , "Questions of a reading worker", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Knut W. Barde

This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 27
Word count: 162

Questions of a reading worker
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Who built seven-doored Thebes?
In the books are the names of kings.
Did the kings haul the rocks?
And Babylon, many times destroyed-
who built it up these many times?  In which houses
of golden-gleaming Lima did the construction
workers live?

In the evening, 
when the Chinese wall was finished, 
where did the masons go? 
The great Rome is full of triumphal arches.
Who erected them?  
Who did the caesars triumph over?

Did the many-sung Byzantium 
have only palaces for its inhabitants?
Even in legendary Atlantis, 
the night the sea vanquished it, 
did the drowning cry for their slaves.

The young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar defeated the gauls.
Didn't he have at least a cook with him?
Philip of Spain cried after his fleet had sunk. 
Did no one else cry?

Frederick the Second was victorious in the Seven Year war.
Who won besides him?
Every page a victory.
Who cooked the victory feast?
Every ten years a great man.
Who paid his expenses?

So many reports.
So many questions.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Knut W. Barde, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 32
Word count: 172