by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Diese Gondel vergleich ich
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Diese Gondel vergleich ich der [Wiege,
  sie schaukelt gefällig]1
Und das Kästchen darauf
    scheint ein geräumiger Sarg.
Recht so! Zwischen der Wieg und dem Sarg
    wir schwanken und schweben
Auf dem großen Kanal
    sorglos durchs Leben dahin.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   O. Schoeck 

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schoeck: "sanft / einschaukelnden Wiege"

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) , "I compare this gondola", copyright ©


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

I compare this gondola
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I compare this gondola
     to a pleasantly rocking cradle;
And the little box upon it
    looks like a spacious coffin.
Rightly so! Between the cradle and the coffin
    we sway and float
On the great canal
    without care through life.

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: 40