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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
Die Kartenlegerin
Language: German (Deutsch) after the French (Français)
Schlief die Mutter endlich ein Über ihrer Hauspostille? Nadel, liege du nun stille: Nähen, immer Nähen, -- nein! -- Legen will ich mir die Karten. Ei, was hab ich zu erwarten? Ei, was wird das Ende sein? Trüget mich die [Ahndung]1 nicht, Zeigt sich Einer, den ich meine, -- Schön! da kommt er ja, der Eine, Coeurbub kannte seine Pflicht. -- Eine reiche Witwe? -- wehe! Ja, er freit sie, ich vergehe! O verruchter Bösewicht! Herzeleid und viel Verdruß, -- Eine Schul' und enge Mauern, -- [Carreaukönig]2, der bedauern Und zuletzt mich trösten muß. -- Ein Geschenk auf artge Weise -- Er entführt mich -- Eine Reise -- Geld und Lust im Überfluß! Dieser [Carreaukönig]2 da Muß ein Fürst sein oder König Und es fehlt daran nur wenig, Bin ich selber Fürstin ja. -- Hier ein Feind, der mir zu schaden Sich bemüht bei seiner Gnaden, Und ein Blonder steht mir nah. Ein Geheimnis kommt [zu Tag]3, Und ich flüchte noch bei Zeiten, -- Fahret wohl, ihr Herrlichkeiten! O das war ein harter Schlag! Hin ist Einer, eine Menge Bilden um mich ein Gedränge, Daß ich [kaum sie]4 zählen mag. Dieser hier in grauem Haar Ist ein Junker wohl vom Lande, Spröde halt' ich ihn am Bande Und ich führ' ihn zum Altar. -- Nach Paris! -- Ein lustig Leben! Brummt der Mann, so lach' ich eben, Bleibt doch alles, wie es war. -- [Kommt das grämliche Gesicht]5, Kommt die Alte da mit Keuchen, Lieb' und Lust mir zu verscheuchen, Eh' die Jugend mir gebricht? -- Ach! die Mutter ist's, die aufwacht, Und den Mund zu schelten aufmacht.-- Nein, die Karten lügen nicht!
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1-5, 7
Confirmed with Gedichte von Adelbert von Chamisso, Neunzehnte Auflage, Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1869, pages 174-175.
1 Schumann: "Ahnung"2 Schumann: "Karo-König"
3 Schumann: "zu Tage"
4 Schumann: "sie kaum"
5 Schumann: "Kommt das dumme Fraungesicht"
Text Authorship:
- by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Die Kartenlegerin", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Vier Lieder von Béranger, no. 1 [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780 - 1857), "Les cartes, ou L'horoscope"
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 Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Die Kartenlegerin", op. 19a (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1846 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger; opus 19 was re-used in 1855 for a set of 12 songs so we have added 'a' to the opus number to distinguish the earlier set [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Kartenlegerin", op. 31 no. 2 (1840), published 1841, stanzas 1-5,7 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Gesänge von Adalbert von Chamisso, no. 2, Hamburg, Cranz [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La tiradora de cartes ", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De kaartlegster", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The fortune-teller", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La tireuse de cartes", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-20
Line count: 49
Word count: 265
The fortune‑teller
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Has my mother finally fallen asleep Over her book of sermons? Needle, you now must lie still: Sewing, ever sewing, -- no! -- I shall read the cards to ascertain my fortune. Ah, what can I expect? Ah, how shall it all turn out? If I am not deceived, Someone shows himself, the one I have in mind, -- Good! there he comes then, the One, The Jack of Hearts knew his duty. -- A rich widow? -- oh woe! Yes, he marries her, I perish! Oh you dreadful scoundrel! Heartache and much vexation, -- A school and closely confining walls, -- The King of Diamonds, who must pity And must finally comfort me. -- A gift [presented] in a courteous manner -- He carries me off -- A journey -- Money and pleasure in abundance! This King of Diamonds there Must be a prince or a king And it would not take much For me to become a princess myself. -- Here is an enemy who, trying to do me a mischief, Fawns about his Highness, And a blonde man is near me. A secret is revealed, And I manage to flee in time, -- Farewell all you glories! Oh that was a cruel blow! One is lost, a crowd Throngs about me, So many people that I can hardly count them. This chap here with grey hair Must be a squire from the country, Demurely I dangle him on a string And I lead him to the altar. -- To Paris! -- A jolly life! If the man grumbles, I simply laugh, For everything remains the way it was. -- [Does the morose visage appear,]1 Is the wheezing old woman coming To chase away my love and enjoyment, Before my youth has flown? -- Ah! it is my mother, who awakens, And opens her mouth to scold me. -- No, the cards do not lie!
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schumann: "Does that wretched woman's visage appear"
1 Schumann: "Does that wretched woman's visage appear"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Sharon Krebs, (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 Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Die Kartenlegerin", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Vier Lieder von Béranger, no. 1 [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780 - 1857), "Les cartes, ou L'horoscope"
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-03
Line count: 49
Word count: 300