by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Das Kind
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Wär' ich ein Kind, ein Knäblein klein,
Ein armes, schwaches, geliebtes,
Daß die Mutter mich wiegte ein
Und süße Lieder mir sänge!
Blumen brächten die Sklavinnen auch,
Mit dem Wedel wehrten die Fliegen;
Aber Zillah, mich küssend, spräch:
"Gesegnet, mein süßes Knäbchen!"

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 (Emily Ezust) , "The child", copyright ©


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

The child
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
If only I were a child - a little boy small,
a poor, delicate, beloved boy -
so that Mother would rock me [in a cradle]
and sing me sweet songs!
And if only slave women would bring me flowers,
and with a fan, blow away the flies;
but Zillah would kiss me and say:
"Bless you, my sweet little boy!"

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,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 59