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Der Tod und das Mädchen

Das Mädchen:
Vorüber! Ach, vorüber!
Geh, wilder Knochenmann!
Ich bin noch jung! Geh, Lieber,
Und rühre mich nicht an.
 
Der Tod:
Gib deine Hand, du schön und zart Gebild!
Bin Freund, und komme nicht, zu strafen.
Sei gutes Muts! ich bin nicht wild,
Sollst sanft in meinen Armen schlafen!
 
Превод

Death and the Maiden

The Maiden:
Oh, go away and leave me!
You wild man of bone!
I'm still so young! Forget me!
Please go! Just leave me alone!
Death:
Give me your hand, you pure and lovely child,
I come to help you, not to harm.
Be of good cheer! I am not wild.
You'll sleep in peace, enfolded by my arm.
 
Franz Schubert: Топ 3
Коментари
GeborgenheitGeborgenheit    Уторак, 01/06/2021 - 20:06

Absolutely genius!

Natur ProvenceNatur Provence    Уторак, 01/06/2021 - 20:16

I agree to author's comment: It is not dear, the german spelling seems wrong to me: It shoud be read: Geh lieber (you should prefer to go)

Excellent translation!

Bertram KottmannBertram Kottmann    Среда, 28/07/2021 - 10:35

Thanks for the translation.
@ Richard Packham, Geborgenheit, Natur Provence:
The first print from 1774 shows "lieber." By an oversight a comma was placed behind it.
Hence the erroneous reinterpretation to "Geh, Lieber," which distorts the meaning.

With regard to the German meter and an equal rhythm
I allow myself to introduce this alternative:

The Maiden:
Oh, go away and leave me!
You cruel/savage man of bone!
I'm still so young! Forget me!
Please go! Leave me alone!

Death:
Give me your hand, you pure and tender child,
I come to help and not to harm you.
Be of good cheer! I am not wild.
Sleep in my arms, they gently hold you.

BlueBirdBlueBird    Среда, 28/07/2021 - 10:51

Not exactly about the translation, but for what it's worth, this piece of music has been a main motif (and the music of a crucial scene) in a well-known movie of the same name by Roman Polanski (here).

AnBAnB    Понедељак, 18/04/2022 - 09:17

Thanks for your translation!
I had rather liked the idea of the girl addressing death as a lover (Lieber), trying to kind of seduce him by flattery. To which he replies by asking for her hand (which can be interpreted not only as physical touch but also as giving her hand in marriage). He also refers to her beauty, allowing himself some worldly contemplation before he takes her with him.
The numerous pictures of death as wild bone-man, lover (or not, depending on upper or lower case :-)) , friend and a father/mother holding a sleeping child in his arms in these short eight lines is pure genius.