Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: CAT ENG
Hat einmal ein Mädchen die Muhme gefragt,
Was Lieb' denn eigentlich sei?
Da machte die Alte ein pfiffig Gesicht
Und lachte so eigen dabei.
"Die Liebe? Das ist ein verschlossener Schrein,
Sieht außen gar unschuldig aus,
Doch hebst du im Fürwitz den Deckel, mein Kind,
Da springt wohl ein Teufelchen 'raus."
Das Mädchen ist 'gangen, es ließ ihm der Spruch
Der Alten nicht Frieden noch Ruh',
Stand bald mit dem lustigen Teufelein
Im Kästchen auf "Du und Du."
Composition:
Set to music by Otto Hess (1871 - 1920), "Pythia", op. 10 no. 2b, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Leipzig: Carl Grüninger ; we have added the letter 'b' to the number because a different song was used for this position in the same set
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 82
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
A maiden once asked her aunt:
What is love, actually?
The old lady made a canny face
And laughed so peculiarly the while.
"Love? It is a sealed shrine
That looks quite innocent from the outside,
But if you lift the lid in curiosity, my child,
A little devil will no doubt leap out.
The maiden went away, what the old lady had said
Left her neither peace nor rest,
And soon she and the merry little devil
In the box were intimately acquainted.
Translations of title(s):
"Hat einmal ein Mädel die Muhme gefragt" = "A maiden once asked her aunt"
"Pythia" = "Pythia"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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:
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This text was added to the website: 2023-10-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 86
