by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
Wha is that at my bower‑door?"
Language: Scottish (Scots)
Our translations: HUN
"Wha is that at my bower-door?" "O wha is it but Findlay!" "Then gae your gate, ye'se nae be here:" "Indeed maun I," quo' Findlay; "What mak' ye, sae like a thief?" "O come and see," quo' Findlay; "Before the morn ye'll work mischief:" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "Gif I rise and let you in"- "Let me in," quo' Findlay; "Ye'll keep me waukin wi' your din;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay; "In my bower if ye should stay"- "Let me stay," quo' Findlay; "I fear ye'll bide till break o' day;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "Here this night if ye remain"- "I'll remain," quo' Findlay; "I dread ye'll [learn]1 the gate again;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "What may pass within this bower"- "Let it pass," quo' Findlay; "Ye maun conceal till your last hour:" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Scott: "ken"
Glossary
maun = must
bide = remain
waukin = awake
din = noise
ken = know
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Indeed will I, quo' Findlay", first published 1783 [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 Francis George Scott (1880 - 1958), "Wha is that at my bower-door?", published 1939 [ low voice and piano ], from Scottish Lyrics, Book 5, no. 6, Bayley & Ferguson; confirmed with Songs of Francis George Scott, selected and edited by Neil Mackay, Roberton Publications, Aylesbury 1980, page 96. [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876) ; composed by Carl Loewe, Eusebius Mandyczewski.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858) , "Der kecke Finlay" ; composed by Robert Schumann.
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Samuil Yakovlevich Marschak (1887 - 1964) ; composed by Georgiy Vasil'yevich Sviridov.
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Gustaf Fröding (1860 - 1911) ; composed by Emil Sjögren.
- Also set in Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch), a translation by August Corrodi (1826 - 1885) ; composed by Friedrich Niggli.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Kdo do komůrky mé by rád?"
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Tamás Rédey) , "Ki vagy te ott a kert alatt?", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 144
Findlay
Language: German (Deutsch) after the Scottish (Scots)
Nun, wer klopft an meine Tür? Ich, mein Schatz! sprach Findlay. Geh' nach Haus! was treibst du hier? Gutes nur! sprach Findlay. Wie ein Räuber schleichst du doch! Räub' auch gern! sprach Findlay. Treibst vor Morgen Unfug noch. Allerdings! sprach Findlay. Ständ' ich auf und liess' dich ein, Laß mich ein! sprach Findlay. Schlief' ich wohl nicht wieder ein! Kann wohl sein! sprach Findlay. Wärst du bei mir im Gemach, Wär' ich's erst! sprach Findlay. Gingest du wohl nicht vor Tag; Freilich nicht! sprach Findlay. Aber nimm, bleibst du die Nacht, Ja, ich bleib'! sprach Findlay. Auf dem Heimweg dich in Acht! Fürchte nichtst! sprach Findlay. Aber, was im Kämmerlein auch geschieht, sprach Findlay. Halt's geheim, verschweig' es fein! Ganz gewiss! sprach Findlay.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Indeed will I, quo' Findlay", first published 1783
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Findlay", 1836 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Eusebius Mandyczewski (1857 - 1929), "Findlay", op. 8 (Lieder und Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 2, published 1885 [ mixed chorus ], Wien, Rebay & Robitschek [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 123