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Antonius zur Predigt Die Kirche findt ledig. Er geht zu den Flüssen und predigt den Fischen; Sie schlagen mit den Schwänzen, Im Sonnenschein glänzen. Die Karpfen mit Rogen Sind [allhier gezogen]1, Haben d'Mäuler aufrissen, Sich Zuhörens beflissen; Kein Predigt niemalen Den Karpfen so g'fallen. Spitzgoschete Hechte, Die immerzu fechten, Sind eilend herschwommen, Zu hören den Frommen; [ Kein Predigt niemalen Den Hechten so g'fallen.]2 Auch jene Phantasten, Die immerzu fasten; Die Stockfisch ich meine, Zur Predigt erscheinen; Kein Predigt niemalen Den Stockfisch so g'fallen. Gut Aale und Hausen, Die Vornehme schmausen, Die selbst sich bequemen, Die Predigt vernehmen: [Kein Predigt niemalen den Aalen so g'fallen.]2 Auch Krebse, Schildkroten, Sonst langsame Boten, Steigen eilig vom Grund, Zu hören diesen Mund: Kein Predigt niemalen den Krebsen so g'fallen. Fisch große, Fisch kleine, Vornehm und gemeine, Erheben die Köpfe Wie verständge Geschöpfe: Auf Gottes Begehren Die Predigt anhören. Die Predigt geendet, Ein jeder sich wendet, Die Hechte bleiben Diebe, Die Aale viel lieben. Die Predigt hat g'fallen. Sie bleiben wie alle. Die Krebs gehn zurücke, Die Stockfisch bleiben dicke, Die Karpfen viel fressen, die Predigt vergessen. Die Predigt hat g'fallen. Sie bleiben wie alle.
Note: cf. Abraham a Santa Clara; Judas der Erzschelm, I, page 253
1 another version: "all' hierher zogen"2 omitted by Mahler
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn [author's text not yet checked 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 Armin Knab (1881 - 1951), "Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt", 1904-07 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt", 1893, published 1899 [ voice and orchestra or piano ], from Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (formerly "Humoresken"), no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La prèdica de Sant Antoni de Pàdua als peixos", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "St. Anthony's Sermon to the Fishes", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le prêche de Saint Antoine de Padoue aux poissons", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Ehud Shapiro) , "דרשת הדגים של אנטוניוס מפדואה", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "La predica di Sant'Antonio ai pesci", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POR Portuguese (Português) (Napoleão Laureano de Andrade) , "O Sermão de Santo Antônio de Pádua aos Peixes", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elena María Accinelli) , "El sermón de San Antonio a los peces", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Jakob Kellner , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 195
St. Anthony arrives for his sermon and finds the church empty. He goes to the rivers to preach to the fishes; They flick their tails, which glisten in the sunshine. The carp with roe have all come here, their mouths wide open, listening attentively. No sermon ever pleased the carp so. Sharp-mouthed pike that are always fighting have come here, swimming hurriedly to hear this pious one; No sermon ever pleased the pike so. Also, those fantastic creatures that are always fasting - the stockfish, I mean - they also appeared for the sermon; No sermon ever pleased the stockfish so. Good eels and sturgeons, that are dined upon by the nobility - even they took the trouble to hear the sermon: No sermon ever pleased the eels so. Crabs too, and turtles, usually such slowpokes, rise quickly from the bottom, to hear this voice. No sermon ever pleased the crabs so. Big fish, little fish, noble fish, common fish, all lift their heads like sentient creatures: At God's behest they listen to the sermon. The sermon having ended, each turns himself around; the pikes remain thieves, the eels, great lovers. The sermon has pleased them, but they remain the same as before. The crabs still walk backwards, the stockfish stay rotund, the carps still stuff themselves, the sermon is forgotten! The sermon has pleased them, but they remain the same as before.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 230