Ce n'est pas l'occasion qui fait le larron

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Translation © by Guy Laffaille

Nicht Gelegenheit macht Diebe

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE ITA

Nicht Gelegenheit macht Diebe,
Sie ist selbst der größte Dieb;
Denn sie stahl den Rest der Liebe,
Die mir noch im Herzen blieb.

Dir hat sie ihn übergeben,
Meines Lebens Vollgewinn,
Daß ich nun, verarmt, mein Leben
Nur von dir gewärtig bin.

Doch ich fühle schon Erbarmen
Im Karfunkel deines Blicks,
Und erfreu in deinen Armen
Mich erneuerten Geschicks.

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Text Authorship:

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), no title, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 8. Buch Suleika -- Suleika Nameh [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by (Franz) Carl Adalbert Eberwein (1786 - 1868), "Hatem" [sung text not yet checked]
by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Nicht Gelegenheit macht Diebe", published 1891 [ voice and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 39, Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]

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 (Malcolm Wren) , "It isn't opportunity that makes a thief", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Non è l'occasione a fare il ladro", 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: 12
Word count: 59

Ce n'est pas l'occasion qui fait le...

Language: French (Français) after the German (Deutsch)

Ce n'est pas l'occasion qui fait le larron,
Elle est elle-même le plus grand larron,
car elle a volé le reste de l'amour
Qui demeurait encore dans mon cœur.

Elle l'a donné à toi,
Tout le profit de mon amour,
De sorte que maintenant, appauvri, ma vie
Dépend seulement de toi.

Mais je trouve déjà un réconfort
Dans l'escarboucle de tes yeux,
Et je jouis dans tes bras
D'un sort renouvelé.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Guy Laffaille, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), no title, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 8. Buch Suleika -- Suleika Nameh
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2014-08-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 71