by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)
Translation by Otokar Fischer (1883 - 1938)
The wishing caps
Language: English
Life's all getting and giving, I've only myself to give. What shall I do for a living? I've only one life to live. End it? I'll not find another. Spend it? But how shall I best? Sure the wise plan is to live like a man And Luck may look after the rest! Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! Give or hold at your will. If I've no care for Fortune, Fortune must follow me still. Bad Luck, she is never a lady But the commonest wench on the street, Shuffling, shabby and shady, Shameless to pass or meet. Walk with her once--it's a weakness! Talk to her twice. It's a crime! Thrust her away when she gives you "good day" And the besom won't board you next time. Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! What is Your Ladyship's mood? If I have no care for Fortune, My Fortune is bound to be good! Good Luck she is never a lady But the cursedest quean alive! Tricksy, wincing and jady, Kittle to lead or drive. Greet her--she's hailing a stranger! Meet her--she's busking to leave. Let her alone for a shrew to the bone, And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve! Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! I'll neither follow nor flee. If I don't run after Fortune, Fortune must run after me!
Text Authorship:
- by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936), "The wishing caps", appears in Songs from Books, first published 1912 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Gordon Ware Binkerd (1916 - 2003), "The wishing caps", published 1971 [ low voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Otokar Fischer) , "Košíček"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-03
Line count: 36
Word count: 214
Košíček
Language: Czech (Čeština) after the English
Život vše přijme, vše dá ti, já dávám sebe jen sám. Co mám si na světě přáti? Vždyť jediný život jen mám. Prodat jej? Nenajdu jiný. Rozdat? A jak na to jít? Nejlepší jest: vždy jak muž si jen vést a ostatní nechat vše být. Štěstí! Štědré ty štěstí! buď ke mně hodné či ne! Když nepředcházím si štěstí, štěstí si předchází mne. Neštěstí, to není dáma, nestoudná děvka to je, trajda, všem trhanům známá, běhna, ať přijde, ať jde. Voď se s ní jednou — jsi slaboch! Choď si s ní znova — jsi bit! Vyhoď ji ven, když ti dá „Dobrý den!“ — jen tím si vykoupíš klid. Štěstí! Štěstěno, štěstí! Ráčíte, dámo, si přát? Když nepředcházím si štěstí, vidím je před sebou stát. Štěstí, to není dáma, ta koketa nalíčená, ta lehtavá prohnanost samá, jež s každým se milkovat zná. Pozdrav ji — flirtuje s jiným. Klaň se — dělá ti nos. Čelem jen vzad! nech tu fiflenu stát — hned na tvůj se přilepí šos! Štěstí! Štědré ty štěstí! Schůzku —? Či kvinde —? Ach ne! Když nenamlouvám si štěstí, štěstí si namluví mne!
Confirmed with KIPLING, Rudyard. Písně mužů, translated by Otokar Fischer, Zlín: Tisk, 1946. pages 67-68.
Text Authorship:
- by Otokar Fischer (1883 - 1938), "Košíček" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936), "The wishing caps", appears in Songs from Books, first published 1912
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-08-09
Line count: 36
Word count: 188