Die Betrogenen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Von diesen Sachen, Mädchen, sprich,
Was dir zumeist gefällt,
Denn so gefällt's auch sicherlich
Der, die's von mir erhält.
Sie hört es mit beglücktem Sinn,
Doch was sie wählt ist klein;
Er zählt die blanken Thaler hin,
Der Jude streicht sie ein.
Ja wohl, ja wohl, betrogen sind
Mit Einem Kauf die drei:
Ach Gott, ach Gott, das arme Kind
Meint, daß es für sie sei.
Der Herr betrogen um sein Geld[,]
Er kauft unecht für echt:
Betrogen die's von ihm erhält,
Ihr ists zu klein und schlecht.
Betrogen aber bitterlich,
Die ihn geliebet hat --
Er nimmt den Schmuck und eilet sich,
Und dankt ihr für den Rath.
Er hat sie doch einmal geküßt,
Daß sie geliebt sich meint;
Sie gehet wo es finster ist,
Und sitzet da und weint.
Confirmed with Gedichte von O.F. Gruppe, Berlin: Gedruckt und verlegt bei G. Reimer, 1835, pages 214-215.
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):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The cheated ones", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2013-06-22
Line count: 24
Word count: 130
The cheated ones
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Of these things, maiden, tell me
Which one you like best,
For then it shall surely also please
The one who receives it from me.
She hears it with delight,
But what she chooses is small;
He pays out the shiny thalers,
The Jew sweeps them into his money-bag.
Yes indeed, yes indeed, three are
Cheated with a single purchase:
Oh God, oh God, the poor child
Thinks that the gift is for her.
The man cheated of his money[,]
He purchased false for real:
Cheated is she who receives it from him,
She finds it too small and badly made.
Cheated, but bitterly,
Is she who loved him --
He takes the jewelry and makes haste,
And thanks her for the advice.
Yet he once kissed her
So that she thought she was loved;
She withdraws into the darkness
And sits there and weeps.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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:
This text was added to the website: 2025-11-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 144
