Service to a lady | I wish to carry your train

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by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Damendienst

(Sung text for setting by P. von Decker)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Die Schleppe will ich dir tragen,
Ich will deinem Dienst mich weihn,
An Festen und hohen Tagen
Sollst du meine Kön'gin sein!
 
Deiner Launen geheimste, kühnste
Gehorsam erfüll ich dir;
Doch leid ich in diesem Dienste
Keinen andern neben mir.
 
Solang ich dir diene in Ehren,
Gehöret dein Lächeln mein;
Deinen Hofstaat will ich vermehren;
Doch der Erste will ich sein.

Confirmed with: Theodor Storm, Gesammelte Werke, with an introduction by Dr. Karl Weitzel, Volume 2, Leipzig: Verlag der Literaturwerke "Minerva" R. Max Lippold, [no year], page 1187.

Composition:

Pauline von Decker

Text Authorship:

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Damendienst"

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Service to a lady", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Service d'une Dame", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2008-01-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Service to a lady

(Sung text translation for setting by P. von Decker)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

I wish to carry your train,
I wish to dedicate myself to your service,
At festivals and holidays
You shall be my queen!

The most most secret, most audacious of your whims
I shall obediently fulfill;
But I shall not tolerate anyone
Besides me to be in your service.

As long as I serve you in honour,
Your smiles belong to me;
I wish to enlarge your court;
But I wish to be its primary member.

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:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Damendienst"
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This text was added to the website: 2023-09-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 79