Sprachen Königin und König einstens:
"Was für Arbeit geb' ich unsern Sklaven?" --
"Feines Stickwerk soll'n die Mädchen sticken,
Dünnes Garn von Flachs die Witwen spinnen,
Ungefurchtes Land die Männer graben." --
Sprachen Königin und König wieder:
"Was zum Abendmahl geb' ich den Sklaven?" --
"Süß Honigkuchen gib den Mädchen,
Weiße Weizenbrötlein gib den Witwen,
Ungesiebtes Maismehlbrot den Männern."
Sprachen Königin und König wieder:
"Nachts wo sollen liegen unsre Sklaven?" --
"In dem oberen Gemach die Mädchen,
Auf dem weichen Polsterbett die Witwen,
Unter Nesseln unter'm Zaun die Männer."
Composition:
Set to music by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Schlimm für die Männer", op. 75 no. 7 (1903) [ high voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
Based on:
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) , "A sorry lot for men", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Triste sort pour les hommes", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 89
The King and Queen had a discussion once upon a time:
"What sort of work shall I give our slaves?" --
"Fine embroidery shall be done by the young maidens,
Fine thread of flax shall be spun by the widows,
Unplowed land shall be dug by the men."
The King and Queen again had a discussion:
"What shall I give to the slaves for supper?" --
"Sweet honeycakes to the young maidens,
Little white wheat breads to the widows,
Unsifted cornmeal bread to the men."
The King and Queen again had a discussion:
"Where shall our slaves sleep at night?" --
"In the upper rooms the young maidens,
Upon softly padded beds the widows,
Among the nettles under the fence the men."
