by
Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
Der falsche Freund
Language: German (Deutsch)
"O sei mein Freund!" so schallt's vom Heuchelmunde
Dem Falschen, der mit heimlichem Behagen
Den Vorteil überzählt von solchem Bunde;
Du traust ihm, und - schon hast du eingeschlagen,
Ein edler Tor! Naht einst die Wetterstunde,
So siehst den Schurken du mit bleichem Zagen
In seines Ichs bequeme Hütte springen,
Hinausgesperrt magst mit dem Sturm du ringen.
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 (Peter Palmer) , "The false friend", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-09-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 56
The false friend
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
"Oh, be my friend!" is the cry from the liar's mouth,
The hypocrite who, with secret contentment,
Reckons up the profit from just such a bond;
You trust him -- and already you have shaken hands,
Noble fool that you are! For when stormy times are approaching,
You'll see the rascal, pale and quaking,
Leap into the cosy hut of his own self;
You, locked out, can battle with the storm.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Peter Palmer, (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: 2009-03-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 70