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Laßet Gelehrte sich zanken und streiten,
Streng und bedächtig die Lehrer auch sein!
Alle die Weisesten aller der Zeiten
Lächeln und winken und stimmen mit ein:
Töricht, auf Beßrung der Toren zu harren!
Kinder der Klugheit, o habet die Narren
Eben zum Narren auch, wie sich's gehört!
...
Und auf den Höhen der indischen Lüfte
Und in den Tiefen ägyptischer Grüfte
Hab ich das heilige Wort nur gehört:
Töricht, auf Beßrung der Toren zu harren!
Kinder der Klugheit, o habet die Narren
Eben zum Narren auch, wie sich's gehört!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Kophtisches Lied", op. 59 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1892), published 1892, stanzas 1,3 [ baritone and piano ], Brüssel, Schott
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied", written 1799
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Let the learned men squabble and bicker", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chanson copte", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canzone copta I", copyright © 2012, (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: 19
Word count: 128
Lasciate che i dotti discutano litigando,
che siano riflessivi e severi gli insegnanti!
Ma i più saggi in ogni tempo
si mostrano sempre allegri e concilianti:
Sperare che lo stolto migliori è follia!
Chi nasce intelligente, si prenda gioco di loro,
proprio come conviene che sia!
...
E sulle vette sotto i cieli dell'india
nelle profonde tombe dell'Egitto
ho sempre ascoltato questo sacro motto:
Sperare che lo stolto migliori è follia!
Chi nasce intelligente, si prenda gioco di loro,
proprio come conviene che sia!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2012 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied", written 1799
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This text was added to the website: 2012-02-05
Line count: 19
Word count: 125