Sweet begging | As a beggar I knocked at your door

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by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Süsse Bettelei

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ein Bettler klopft' ich bei Dir an
  Um einen Kuß -- Du gabst ihn mir!
  Ein Bettler kehrt' ich ein bei Dir,
Und kam hervor ein reicher Mann,
  So reich am höchsten Glück der Welt,
  Daß alles Gold und alles Geld
Nicht solche Schätze kaufen kann!

Doch, ob des Augenblicks Genuß
  Mein ganzes Leben auch verschönt,
  Hat mich Dein Geben so verwöhnt,
Daß ich stets weiter flehen muß
  Um einen Kuß -- und nimmer frei
  Wirst Du nun dieser Bettelei
Um einen Kuß! um einen Kuß!

Confirmed with Altes und Neues. Gedichte von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei (R. Decker), 1859, page 110.

Note to stanza 2, line 6: The word "dieser" is incorrectly given as "diese" in some editions of the poem.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Süße Bettelei", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 9. Aus dem Buche Edlitam (1847-1851) [author's text checked 2 times 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 Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861), "Süsse Bettelei", op. 163 (Friedrich Bodenstedts Lieder für eine Sopran oder Tenorstimme am Piano zu singen), Heft 2 no. 12, published 1853 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Berlin, Bote und Bock [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Sweet begging", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2021-08-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 84

Sweet begging

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

As a beggar I knocked at your door,
  [Begging] for a kiss -- you gave it to me!
  As a beggar I entered your abode,
And emerged a rich man,
  So rich in the greatest happiness on earth,
  That all gold and all money
Cannot buy such treasures!

Yet, although through the momentary pleasure
  My whole life was beautified,
  Your giving spoiled me so much
That must ever continue to plead
  For a kiss -- and nevermore shall you
  Be free now of this begging
For a kiss! for a kiss!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Süße Bettelei", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 9. Aus dem Buche Edlitam (1847-1851)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2022-05-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 89