I've wondered about the story behind "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" for most of my life. Supposedly, there's a tale by that name by the Brothers Grimm, but it's quite different from the story in Disney's Fantasia that I grew up with. Can anybody find a text and translation of the Grimm version? I found a Grimm Brothers Home Page, but no Zauberlehrling.
I read somewhere that Paul Dukas (1865-1935) used a poem by goethe as the basis for his musical composition. I found the text tonight at this site (click). I'm wondering what other versions of the story are known.
-Joe Offer-
Der Zauberlehrling (The wizard's apprentice)
Text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
Hat der alte Hexenmeister The old witch-master Sich doch einmal wegbegeben! has finally gone away! Und nun sollen seine Geister And now I too shall invoke his spirits Auch nach meinem Willen leben. and bring them to life by my will. Seine Wort' und Werke His words and work Merk' ich, und den Brauch, I have noted, and the method, Und mit Geistesstärke and with the might of these spirits, Tu' ich Wunder auch. I shall also work wonders! Walle! Walle Flow! Flow Manche Strecke, many ways, Daß zum Zwecke so that to my purpose Wasser fließe, the water will run, Und mit reichem vollen Schwalle and with a rich, full splash Zu dem Bade sich ergieße. it will all land in the tub. Und nun komm, du alter Besen! Now come, old broomstick! Nimm die schlechten Lumpenhüllen, Take your foul rag wrapping Bist schon lange Knecht gewesen, (you have long been our servant!) Und erfülle meinen Willen. and fulfill my wishes. Auf zwei Beinen stehe, Stand on two legs, Oben sei ein Kopf, and let there be a head on top. Eile nun und gehe Hurry now and go Mit dem Wassertopf! with the water-pail! Walle! Walle Flow, flow Manche Strecke, many ways Daß zum Zwecke so that to my purpose Wasser fließe, the water will run, Und mit reichem vollen Schwalle and with a rich, full splash Zu dem Bade sich ergieße. it will all land in the tub. Seht! er läuft zum Ufer nieder, Look! he is running to the banks below, Wahrlich! ist schon an dem Fluße, truly! he is already at the river, Und mit Blitzesschnelle wieder and lightning-quick he's back again Ist er hier mit raschem Gusse, to dump the water swiftly; Schon zum zweitenmale! and now already he's gone a second time! Wie das Becken schwillt! Oh how the basin is filling! Wie sich jede Schaale Now every basin Voll mit Wasser füllt! has been filled with water! Stehe! Stehe Stand still! Stop! Denn wir haben For we have Deiner Gaben of your gifts Vollgemessen! had enough! Ach! ich merk es: Wehe! Wehe! Oh! I've just noticed: woe, woe, Hab ich doch das Wort vergessen! I have forgotten the magic word! Ach! das Wort, worauf am Ende Oh, the word to use at the end, Er das wird, was er gewesen. to make him what he was... Ach! er läuft und bringt behende! oh! he is so agile as he runs and brings the water! Wärst du doch der alte Besen! Would that you were just an old broomstick again! Immer neue Güsse More and more water Bringt er schnell herein. is he bringing in so rapidly. Ach! und hundert Flüße Oh! a hundred rivers Stürzen auf mich ein. have burst in upon me. Nein, nicht länger No! no longer Kann ichs lassen, can I permit this to continue. Will ihn fassen, I will seize him, Das ist Tücke! the perfidious thing. Ach! nun wird mir immer bänger! Oh! I'm growing more and more frightened! Welche Miene! Welche Blicke! What a face, what a glare! O! du Ausgeburt der Hölle! Oh you offspring of hell! Soll das ganze Haus ersaufen? Do you mean to drown the entire house? Seh ich über jede Schwelle I can already see across every threshold Doch schon Wasserströme laufen, streams of water running. Ein verruchter Besen! Wicked broom! Der nicht hören will. It will not listen. Stock! der du gewesen, Stick that you once were, Steh doch einmal still! just stand still once more! Willst's am Ende Finally, if you Gar nicht lassen; will not let off, Will dich fassen, I will grab you, Will dich halten, I will hold you, Und das alte Holz behende and quickly split this old wood Mit dem scharfen Beile spalten. with a sharp axe. Seht! da kommt er schleppend wieder! Look! he's coming again! Wie ich mich nun auf dich werfe, How I will set upon you now, Gleich, o Kobold! liegst du nieder: you gremlin! there, I've knocked you down. Krachend trifft die glatte Schärfe. Crash! goes the smooth, sharp blade. Wahrlich! brav getroffen. Really a true stroke. Seht! er ist entzwei: Look, he is cut in two: Und nun kann ich hoffen, and now I can hope Und ich atme frei. to breethe freely now. Wehe! Wehe! Woe! Woe! Beide Teile Both pieces Stehn, in Eile, are standing up in haste, Schon als Knechte ready-made servants Völlig fertig in die Höhe! rising in stature! Helft mir! ach ihr hohen Mächte! Help me! oh higher powers! Und sie laufen, naß und näßer And they run, and it grows wetter and wetter Wird's im Saal und auf den Stufen: in the hall and on the steps: Welch entsetzliches Gewässer! What an appalling flood! Herr und Meister! hör mich rufen! Lord and Master! hear me call! Ach! da kommt der Meister! Ah! the Master is coming! Herr! die Not ist groß: Sir, I am in a huge mess: Die ich rief als Geister I have summoned spirits Werd' ich nun nicht los. that I cannot dispell. "In die Ecke, "To the corner, Besen, Besen! broomstick, broomstick! Seid's gewesen. Be done. Denn als Geister For as a spirit Ruft euch nur you shall be called Zu seinem Zwecke for my purpose Erst hervor henceforth only Der alte Meister." by your old Master."
Translation to English by Emily Ezust
this page (click) has an alternate translation:
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
That old sorcerer has vanished
And for once has gone away!
Spirits called by him, now banished,
My commands shall soon obey.
Every step and saying
That he used, I know,
And with sprites obeying
My arts I will show.
Flow, flow onward
Come, old broomstick, you are needed,
Stretches many
Spare not any
Water rushing,
Ever streaming fully downward
Toward the pool in current gushing.
Take these rags and wrap them round you!
Long my orders you have heeded,
By my wishes now I've bound you.
Have two legs and stand,
And a head for you.
Run, and in your hand
Hold a bucket too.
Flow, flow onward
See him, toward the shore he's racing
Stretches many,
Spare not any
Water rushing,
Ever streaming fully downward
Toward the pool in current gushing.
There, he's at the stream already,
Back like lightning he is chasing,
Pouring water fast and steady.
Once again he hastens!
How the water spills,
How the water basins
Brimming full he fills!
Stop now, hear me!
Ah, the word with which the master
Ample measure
Of your treasure
We have gotten!
Ah, I see it, dear me, dear me.
Master's word I have forgotten!
Makes the broom a broom once more!
Ah, he runs and fetches faster!
Be a broomstick as before!
Ever new the torrents
That by him are fed,
Ah, a hundred currents
Pour upon my head!
No, no longer
Brood of hell, you're not a mortal!
Can I please him,
I will seize him!
That is spiteful!
My misgivings grow the stronger.
What a mien, his eyes how frightful!
Shall the entire house go under?
Over threshold over portal
Streams of water rush and thunder.
Broom accurst and mean,
Who will have his will,
Stick that you have been,
Once again stand still!
Can I never, Broom, appease you?
He returns, more water dragging!
I will seize you,
Hold and whack you,
And your ancient wood
I'll sever,
With a whetted axe I'll crack you.
Now I'll throw myself upon you!
Soon, 0 goblin, you'll be sagging.
Crash! The sharp axe has undone you.
What a good blow, truly!
There, he's split, I see.
Hope now rises newly,
And my breathing's free.
Woe betide me!
Off they run, till wet and wetter
Both halves scurry
In a hurry,
Rise like towers
There beside me.
Help me, help, eternal powers!
Hall and steps immersed are Iying.
What a flood that naught can fetter!
Lord and master, hear me crying! -
Ah, he comes excited.
Sir, my need is sore.
Spirits that I've cited
My commands ignore.
"To the lonely
Corner, broom!
Hear your doom.
As a spirit
When he wills, your master only
Calls you, then 'tis time to hear it."
1779, translation by Edwin Zeydel, 1955