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Laßet Gelehrte sich zanken und streiten, Streng und bedächtig die Lehrer auch sein! Alle die Weisesten aller der Zeiten Lächeln und winken und stimmen mit ein: Töricht, auf Beßrung der Toren zu harren! Kinder der Klugheit, o habet die Narren Eben zum Narren auch, wie sich's gehört! Merlin der Alte, im leuchtenden Grabe, Wo ich als Jüngling gesprochen ihn habe, Hat mich mit ähnlicher Antwort belehrt: Töricht, auf Beßrung der Toren zu harren! Kinder der Klugheit, o habet die Narren Eben zum Narren auch, wie sich's gehört! Und auf den Höhen der indischen Lüfte Und in den Tiefen ägyptischer Grüfte Hab ich das heilige Wort nur gehört: Töricht, auf Beßrung der Toren zu harren! Kinder der Klugheit, o habet die Narren Eben zum Narren auch, wie sich's gehört!
M. Bruch sets stanzas 1, 3
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Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied", written 1799 [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 Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Kophtisches Lied", op. 59 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1892), published 1892, stanzas 1,3 [ baritone and piano ], Brüssel, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Thomas Christian David (1925 - 2006), "Kophtisches Lied", 1986 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Harald Genzmer (1909 - 2007), "Kophtisches Lied", 1940-87, from Acht Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern [sung text not yet checked]
- by Leo Grill (1846 - 1919?), "Cophtisches Lied", op. 6 no. 2, published 1874 [ baritone or low tenor and piano ], from Gesellige Lieder von W. Göthe, für Bariton oder tiefen Tenor mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Killmayer (1927 - 2017), "Cophtisches Lied", 1962 [ SMezATTB chorus a cappella ], from Lieder, Oden und Szenen, no. 9 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Cophtisches Lied I", published 1891 [ voice and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 14, Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Let the learned men squabble and bicker", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chanson copte", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canzone copta I", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 19
Word count: 128
Let the learned men squabble and bicker, and let also the teachers be strong and thoughtful! All of the wisest in all time smile, nod and agree with one thing: it is foolish to wait for fools to grow wise! Children of cleverness, regard fools always as fools, as they deserve! Merlin the Aged, from his gleaming grave, where as a young man I spoke to him - he also instructed me with a similar response: it is foolish to wait for fools to grow wise! Children of cleverness, regard fools always as fools, as they deserve! And on the windy Indian heights, and in the Depths of the Egyptian tombs, I have only heard these sacred words: it is foolish to wait for fools to grow wise! Children of cleverness, regard fools always as fools, as they deserve!
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) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied", written 1799
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 19
Word count: 139