by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by August Corrodi (1826 - 1885)

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.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Scott 

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:

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

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

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

Wer böpperlet a der Chammer a?
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch)  after the Scottish (Scots) 
Wer böpperlet a der Chammer a?
- Nu ich bis, seit de Heiri.
Se pack di hei! Was witt du da?
- Nu öppis! seit de Heiri.
De schliichscht ja, wie wennd gstole hettscht!
- Chumm lueg nu! seit de Heiri.
De machscht na Stämpeneie zletscht!
- Cha scho sy, seit de Heiri.
 
Und lies i di is Chämmerli
- O las mi! seit de Heiri
Se wärs dänn mit mim Schlaf verbi.
- Natürli! seit de Heiri.
Und wärischt i mim Chämmerli
- O wär i! seit de Heiri
Se wettscht, bis's taget, bi mer sy.
- Bis's taget, seit de Heiri.
 
Und wettischt die Nacht bi mer sy
- Di ganz Nacht, seit de Heiri
Se fürch i, chämischt wider gli.
- Gli wider, seit de Heiri.
Was gscheh mag dänn im Chämmerli
- Las gscheh nu! seit de Heiri
Das rat i der, das bhalt für di!
- Verstaht si! seit de Heiri.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2008-07-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 144