mersiowsky - 6-10-2014 at 06:14 PM
(From German-Basliz)
Translated by H. Melvin Symmank
'Young girl, if you desire to remain ours,
to learn to know a foreign land,
You must receive a little son,
(but) remain a virgin pure.'
"Should I receive a little son
but remain a virgin pure,
You must make a cradle,
however, no cut engraved thereon."
'If I make a cradle for you,
however, no cut engraved thereon,
You must wash the diapers,
but soap and water remain distant.'
"If I wash the diapers for you,
but soap and water remain distant,
You must now quickly tell me
where my youngest brother is."
'Should I now quickly tell you
where your youngest brother is,
You must spin for me from horsehair,
silk, soft and fine.'
"Should I spin for you from horsehair,
silk, soft and fine,
You must for me, completely without crookedness,
make a spindle out of only reeds."
'Should I for you, completely without crookedness,
make a spindle out of only reeds,
You must count the stars for me,
which are in the heavens.'
"Should I count the stars for you,
which are in the heavens,
You must make for me a ladder
on which I can climb (to do that)"
'Should I make for you a ladder
on which you can climb (to do that)
You must count the tears
which fall downwards.'
"Should I count the tears
which fall downwards,
You must make a hole for me
into which everyone remains."
'Should I make a hole for you
into which everyone remains,
You must also count for me the wild beasts
that are in the whole forest'
"Should I count for you the wild beasts
that are in the whole forest,
You must make a hedge for me
which enclose all the wild beasts.'
'One time, but never again
quarrel with a beautiful maid.
Never again and never forward
contest with a cunning maid.'