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13 Oct 21 - 08:15 PM (#4122837) Subject: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: keberoxu I'm not aware that this has been set to music. It comes from Der Trompeter von Säkkingen. Ein Sang vom Oberrhein, by the Heidelberg author Josef Viktor von Scheffel. What I do understand, without translating it myself, is that this is the point of view of a cat, puzzling over the sight of a man and woman kissing one evening in the dark. Manch' ein schwer Problema hab' ich Prüfend in dem Katerherzen Schon erwogen und ergründet. Aber ein's bleibt ungelöst mir, Ungelöst und unbegriffen. Warum küssen sich die Menschen? S'ist nicht Hass, sie beissen sich nicht; Hunger nicht, sie fressen sich nicht. S'kann auch kein zweckloser blinder Unverstand sein, denn sie sind sonst Klug und selbstbewusst im Handeln. Warum, also, frag' umsonst ich, Warum küssen sich die Menschen? Warum meistens nur die Jüngern? Warum diese meist im Frühling? Über diese Punkte werd' ich Morgen auf des Daches Giebel Etwas näher meditiren. The tomcat's name is Hiddigeigei, by the by. |
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14 Oct 21 - 03:49 AM (#4122849) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: GerryM Google translate says, I have some serious problems Testing in the hangover heart Already considered and explored. But one thing remains unsolved to me Unsolved and unfathomable. Why do people kiss? It's not hate, they don't bite; Not hungry, they don't eat each other. Neither can a pointless blind man Be misunderstood, because otherwise they are Smart and self-confident in action. Why, well, I ask in vain Why do people kiss? Why mostly only the disciples? Why this mostly in spring? About these points I will Tomorrow on the roof gable Meditate a little closer. |
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14 Oct 21 - 07:16 AM (#4122860) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: Monique DeepL Translator says: Many a difficult problem I have Examining in the tomcat heart Already pondered and fathomed. But one remains unsolved for me, Unsolved and incomprehensible. Why do people kiss each other? It's not hate, they don't bite each other; It's not hunger, they don't eat each other. S'can also not be a purposeless blind Lack of understanding, because they are otherwise Wise and self-confident in action. Why, then, I ask in vain, Why do people kiss each other? Why mostly only the disciples? Why these mostly in the spring? About these points I will Tomorrow on the gable of the roof A little closer meditate. |
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14 Oct 21 - 11:00 AM (#4122882) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: keberoxu "Jüngern" literally means youngsters or young people, I know that much -- it is amusing to see it translated as "disciples" because that must be a translation requiring a specific context, and I wonder if "young people" is not the more accurate. |
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14 Oct 21 - 12:19 PM (#4122891) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: Reinhard It is. "Jünger" would be "disciples", but "die Jünger(en)" is an adjective used as a pronoun, standing in for "die jüngeren Menschen", so it is "young people". |
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14 Oct 21 - 12:19 PM (#4122892) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: Reinhard Sorry, that should be "die Jünger(e)n" stating that the "e" has been left out. |
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14 Oct 21 - 12:23 PM (#4122893) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: Reinhard Second verse, "'s" is short for "es", so: It can also be no purposeless blind Ignorance, because they are otherwise Wise and self-confident in their actions. |
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14 Oct 21 - 01:44 PM (#4122897) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: leeneia Thanks, keb, for posting this clever song. And thanks, Reinhard for translating the lines that had me baffled. |
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14 Oct 21 - 02:47 PM (#4122906) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: MudGuard It is tomcat, definitely, in the second line, not hangover (Kater is used for both in German) The song is about a (tom)cat that wonders why humans do kiss. The last part, about meditating on the roof top, makes more sense for a cat than a human ... Jünger/disciples: Jünger is used in that meaning e.g. for Jesus' twelve apostel. Or for firefighters - "Florians-Jünger" (as Saint Florian is the saint who protects houses from fire). |
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15 Oct 21 - 07:55 PM (#4123086) Subject: RE: Trans Req: Warum kuessen sich Menschen? From: keberoxu A little later in the same epic poem about the trompeter, comes a moment when the tomcat, Hiddigeigei, listens to a serious conversation between the old Baron and the young man asking for the hand of the Baron's daughter. Because the two men are not of the same social station, the young man being of lower degree, the Baron refuses. But the Baron knows and likes the young man, so the refusal is very polite and long-winded, and the Baron goes on at quite some length. This all happens inside the castle, and the old tomcat is nestled into one of his favorite spots, near the oven. The cat makes a reprise of his earlier meditation. Here is the text. Hinterm Ofen lag der Kater Hiddigeigei, sorglich lauschend; Nickt' auch mit dem Haupte Beifall An dem Schluß, doch sinnend fuhr er Mit der Pfote an die Stirn', Sinnend dacht' er bei sich selber: Warum küssen sich die Menschen? Alte Frage, neue Skrupel! Dacht' ich doch, ich hätt's gefunden: Dacht', es sei der Kuß ein Mittel, Schnell des andern Mund zu schließen, Daß gewappnet nicht der bittern Wahrheit Wort daraus hervorspring'; Doch auf diese Lösung scheint mir Jetzo eine ganz verfehlt, Denn sonst hätt' mein junger Freund hier Längst den alten Herrn geküßt! -- Josef Viktor von Scheffel, Der Trompeter von Säkkingen: ein Sang vom Oberrhein |