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Kleine Gäste, kleines Haus. Liebe Mäusin oder Maus, [Stell]1 dich nur kecklich ein [Heut']2 nacht bei Mondenschein! Mach aber die [Tür]3 fein hinter dir zu, Hörst du? [Dabei]4 hüte dein Schwänzchen! Nach Tische singen wir, Nach Tische springen wir Und machen ein Tänzchen: Witt witt! Meine alte Katze tanzt wahrscheinlich mit.
Note: The poem is preceded by this line: "(Das Kind geht dreimal um die Falle und spricht:)"
1 Holstein, Wolf: "Stelle"2 Holstein, Wolf: "Heute"
3 Holstein: "Türe"
4 Holstein: "Hüte, ja"
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein", 2009 [ medium voice or high voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hugo Distler (1908 - 1942), "Mausfallensprüchlein", op. 19 (Mörike-Chorliederbuch), Heft 2 no. 5 (1939) [ chorus ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz von Holstein (1826 - 1878), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein", op. 15 (Vierzehn Lieder für zwei weibliche Stimmen (im Freien zu singen)) no. 12, published 1864 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert von Hornstein (1833 - 1890), "Mausfallensprüchlein", op. 22 (2 Gedichte v. E. Mörike) no. 2, published 1862 [ alto or baritone and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Mausfallensprüchlein", op. 13 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1879 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jean-Pierre Waelbroeck (b. 1954), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein", 1994 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Mausfallensprüchlein", 1882, from Sechs Lieder für eine Frauenstimme, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Proverbi de la ratera", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "A little mousetrap epigram", copyright ©
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Petit épigramme de la souricière", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Piccolo motto della trappola per topi", copyright © 2012, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55
Little guests, little house. Dear Miss or Mister Mouse, just boldly present yourself tonight in the moonlight! But shut the door tight behind you, do you hear? And be careful of your tail! After supper we will sing, After supper we will jump and do a little dance; Witt witt! My old cat will probably dance with us.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Mausfallen-Sprüchlein"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 59