by Matthias Claudius (1740 - 1815)
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Der Esel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Hab nichts, mich dran zu freuen,
Bin dumm und ungestalt,
Ohn Mut und ohn Gewalt;
Mein spotten, und mich scheuen
Die Menschen, jung und alt;
Bin weder warm noch kalt;
Hab nichts, mich dran zu freuen,
Bin dumm und ungestalt;
Muss Stroh und Disteln käuen;
Werd unter Säcken alt -
Ah, die Natur schuf mich im Grimme!
Sie gab mir nichts, als eine schöne Stimme.

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 (Gary Bachlund) , "The donkey", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

The donkey
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I have nothing in me of which to rejoice.
Being dumb and misshapen,
Without courage and without power;
I am ridiculed by and shy away from
People, young and old;
I am either warm or cold;
I have nothing in me of which to rejoice.
Being dumb and misshapen,
I have straw and thistles to chew;
I grow old from burdens -
Oh, Nature made me in bitterness!
She gave me nothing, except for this beautiful voice.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 76