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Es stand vor [eines]1 Hauses Thor Ein Esel mit gespitztem Ohr, Der käute sich sein Bündel Heu Gedankenvoll und still entzwei. -- Nun kommen da und bleiben stehn Der naseweisen Buben zween, Die auch sogleich, indem sie lachen, Verhasste Redensarten machen, [Womit man denn bezwecken wollte,]2 Daß sich der Esel ärgern sollte. -- Doch dieser hocherfahrne Greis Beschrieb nur einen halben Kreis, Verhielt sich stumm und zeigte itzt Die Seite, wo der Wedel sitzt.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Kritik des Herzens von Wilhelm Busch, Heidelberg, Verlag von Fr. Bassermann, 1874, page 30.
1 Zeisl: "seines"2 omitted by Zeisl.
Text Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908), no title, appears in Kritik des Herzens [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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Ein Esel-lied", 2010 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Der Weise", op. 34 no. 2 (1929), published 1931 [ four-part men's chorus and piano ], from Drei Porträtstudien, no. 2, Deutscher Arbeiter-Sängerbund, Berlin [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ernst Toch (1887 - 1964), "Der Esel", op. 41 no. 9, published 1928 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Erich Zeisl (1905 - 1959), "Der Weise", 1931, published 1935 [ baritone and orchestra ], from Sechs Lieder, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Wilhelm Busch self-caricature", written 2010, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-04
Line count: 14
Word count: 72
Standing before a house's door Was a donkey, donkey-eared, what's more, Which chewed over a bundle of hay, Pensive, thoughtful on that day. Then came along Neanderthals, Two snotty little know-it-alls, Who ridiculed the donkey there With detestable words, all quite unfair. And why they did this was quite clear, To aggravate it did they jeer. - But the old gray beast with experience keen Turned its back upon that scene, Remaining mute but with some class It turned to show those fools its ass.
Text Authorship:
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Wilhelm Busch self-caricature", written 2010, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908), no title, appears in Kritik des Herzens
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 text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-12-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 84