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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Pierre Mathé

Unbeständigkeit
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  FRE
Im spielenden Bache da lieg ich, wie helle!
Verbreite die Arme der kommenden Welle,
Und buhlerisch drückt sie die sehnende Brust.
Dann trägt sie ihr Leichtsinn im Strome darnieder;
Schon naht sich die zweite und streichelt mich wieder,
Da fühl ich die Freuden der wechselnden Lust.

O Jüngling, sei weise, verwein nicht vergebens
Die fröhlichsten Stunden des traurigen Lebens,
Wenn flatterhaft je dich ein Mädchen vergißt.
Geh, ruf sie zurücke, die vorigen Zeiten!
Es küßt sich so süße der Busen der Zweiten,
Als kaum sich der Busen der Ersten geküßt.

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Unbeständigkeit" [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 Bernhard Theodor Breitkopf (1749 - 1820), "Unbeständigkeit", published 1770. [
     text not verified 
    ]

Set in a modified version by Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe, Johann Friedrich Reichardt, Moritz, Graf von Dietrichstein, Arnold Mendelssohn, Emil Kauffmann, August Bungert, Oskar Fried.

    • Go to the text. [ view differences ]

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Inconstance", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2004-08-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 90

Inconstance
Language: French (Français)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Je suis allongé dans le ruisseau folâtre, ô combien clair !
Les bras écartés devant la vague qui avance,
Et qui impudique se presse contre ma poitrine avide.
Puis le courant emporte la frivole en aval ;
Déjà la suivante s'approche et me caresse aussi,
Alors je ressens le plaisir d'une volupté changeante.

Ô jeune homme, sois sage, ne pleure pas en vain
Les heures les plus joyeuses d'une triste vie
Quand en papillonnant une fille t'oublie.
Vas, rappelle-les ces heures passées !
Le sein de la seconde s'embrasse avec autant de douceur
Que le sein de la première à peine embrassé. 

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2012 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Unbeständigkeit"
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2012-09-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 99

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