An meiner Wand hängt ein japanisches Holzwerk,
Maske eines bösen Dämons, bemalt mit Goldlack.
Mitfühlend sehe ich
Die geschwollenen Stirnadern, andeutend
Wie anstrengend ist es, böse zu sein.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Die Gedichte von Bertolt Brecht in einem Band, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1981 (Neunte Auflage 1997), page 850
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "Die Maske des Bösen", 1942, from Sonette Lieder, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "Die Maske des Bösen", 1942, from Hollywooder Liederbuch, no. 16 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Cristóbal Halffter Jiménez-Encina (1930 - 2021), "Die Maske des Bösen", 2020, published 2021 [ mezzo-soprano and string quartet ], from For mezzosoprano and string quartet, no. 5, Wien, Universal Edition [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The mask of the evil one", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 5
Word count: 28
Upon my wall hangs a Japanese wood-carving,
The mask of an evil demon, painted with gold lacquer.
Compassionately I see
The swollen arteries on the brow, which suggest
How arduous it is to be evil.
