The Angel in the House — Page 1
THE PROLOGUE.
DER PROLOG.
'MINE is no horse with wings, to gain The region of the spheral chime;
„MEINS ist kein geflügeltes Pferd, um zu erreichen Die Region des sphärischen Klangs;
He does but drag a rumbling wain, Cheer'd by the coupled bells of rhyme;
Er schleppt nur einen rumpelnden Wagen, Ermutigt durch die gekoppelten Glocken des Reims;
And if at Fame's bewitching note My homely Pegasus pricks an ear,
Und wenn beim betörenden Klang des Ruhms Mein schlichter Pegasus die Ohren spitzt,
The world's cart-collar hugs his throat, And he's too wise to prance or rear.'
Das Kummet der Welt umschließt seine Kehle, Und er ist zu klug, um zu tänzeln oder sich aufzubäumen."
Thus ever answer'd Vaughan his Wife, Who, more than he, desired his fame;
So stets antwortete Vaughan seiner Frau, Die mehr als er seinen Ruhm begehrte;
But, in his heart, his thoughts were rife How for her sake to earn a name.
Doch in seinem Herzen waren seine Gedanken voll Davon, um ihretwillen einen Namen zu erwerben.
With bays poetic three times crown'd, And other college honours won,
Mit dem Lorbeer der Dichtkunst dreimal gekrönt, Und andere akademische Ehrungen errungen,
He, if he chose, might be renown'd, He had but little doubt, she none;
Er, wenn er es wollte, könnte berühmt sein, Er hatte kaum Zweifel, sie gar keine;
And in a loftier phrase he talk'd With her, upon their Wedding-Day,
Und in erhabenerer Sprache sprach er Mit ihr, an ihrem Hochzeitstag,
(The eighth), while through the fields they walk'd, Their children shouting by the way.
(Dem achten), während sie durch die Felder gingen, Ihre Kinder jubelnd auf dem Weg.
'Not careless of the gift of song, Nor out of love with noble fame,
„Nicht gleichgültig gegenüber der Gabe des Gesangs, Noch ohne Liebe zum edlen Ruhm,
I, meditating much and long What I should sing, how win a name,
Ich, lange und viel nachsinnend, Was ich singen, wie ich einen Namen gewinnen sollte,
Considering well what theme unsung, What reason worth the cost of rhyme,
Wohl erwägend, welches Thema unbesungen, Welcher Grund den Preis des Reims wert sei,
Remains to loose the poet's tongue In these last days, the dregs of time,
Die Zunge des Dichters zu lösen noch übrig bleibt In diesen letzten Tagen, der Hefe der Zeit,
Learn that to me, though born so late, There does, beyond desert, befall
Erfahre, dass mir, obwohl so spät geboren, Es zufällt, über Verdienst hinaus,
(May my great fortune make me great!) The first of themes, sung last of all.
(Möge mein großes Glück mich groß machen!) Das erste der Themen, zuletzt von allen besungen.
In green and undiscover'd ground, Yet near where many others sing,
Auf grünem und unentdecktem Boden, Doch nah, wo viele andere singen,
I have the very well-head found Whence gushes the Pierian Spring.
Habe ich den wahren Quellkopf gefunden, Woraus der pierische Quell hervorströmt.
Vocabulary
- DER
- Definite article for masculine nouns in German.
- PROLOG
- Introductory section or preamble to a literary work.
- MEINS
- Possessive pronoun meaning mine or belonging to me.
- ist
- Third person singular present tense of sein (to be).
- kein
- Indefinite article or pronoun meaning no or not a.
- Pferd
- Large domesticated animal used for riding and transport.
- um
- Preposition meaning around, about, or in order to.
- zu
- Preposition or infinitive particle meaning to.
- erreichen
- To reach, attain, or achieve a goal or destination.
- Die
- Definite article for feminine and plural nouns.
- Region
- Area or district defined by geographical or administrative boundaries.
- des
- Genitive form of der; indicates possession or relationship.
- Er
- Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning he.
- schleppt
- To drag, haul, or pull something with effort.
- nur
- Only, merely, or exclusively; used to limit statement.
- einen
- Accusative form of ein; indefinite article for masculine.
- Wagen
- Vehicle, cart, or wagon used for transport.
- Ermutigt
- Encouraged or made brave by something or someone.
- durch
- Preposition meaning through or by means of.
- die
- Definite article for feminine and plural nouns.
- Glocken
- Bells; metal instruments that produce sound when struck.
- Und
- Conjunction meaning and; used to connect words.
- wenn
- Conjunction meaning if or when; introduces conditional clause.
- beim
- Contraction of bei dem; at the or by the.
- Ruhms
- Genitive of Ruhm; fame, glory, or renown.
- schlichter
- Simple, plain, or unadorned in appearance or style.
- Ohren
- Plural of Ohr; organs used for hearing sound.
- spitzt
- To perk up, point, or sharpen; third person singular.
- Das
- Definite article for neuter nouns in German.
- der
- Definite article for masculine nouns in German.
- Welt
- The world; the earth or the human society.
- umschließt
- To enclose, embrace, or surround something completely.
- seine
- Possessive adjective meaning his or its.
- Kehle
- Throat or gullet; passage for food and air.
- er
- Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning he.
- klug
- Wise, intelligent, or clever in understanding and judgment.
- oder
- Conjunction meaning or; presents alternative choices.
- sich
- Reflexive pronoun; used for reflexive verbs in German.
- So
- Adverb meaning thus, so, or in this way.
- stets
- Always, constantly, or continually without interruption.
- antwortete
- Past tense of antworten; responded or answered someone.
- seiner
- Possessive pronoun or genitive of er; his or of him.
- Frau
- Woman, wife, or female person of married status.
- mehr
- More, greater in quantity or degree.
- als
- Conjunction meaning than; used in comparisons.
- begehrte
- Desired, wanted, or craved something passionately.
- Doch
- However, yet, or but; introduces contrasting statement.
- in
- Preposition meaning in, into, or within.
- seinem
- Dative form of sein; his or its.
- Herzen
- Heart; center of emotions and feelings.
- waren
- Past tense plural of sein; were or existed.
- Gedanken
- Thoughts; ideas or mental processes of mind.
- voll
- Full, complete, or containing the maximum amount.
- Davon
- Of that, thereof; refers to previously mentioned thing.
- Namen
- Names; titles or designations of persons or things.
- erwerben
- To acquire, gain, or obtain something through effort.
- Mit
- Preposition meaning with; accompaniment or association.
- dem
- Dative form of der; to the or with the.
- Lorbeer
- Laurel; symbol of victory, honor, or poetic achievement.
- dreimal
- Three times; occurring or repeated thrice.
- gekrönt
- Crowned; honored with a crown or highest distinction.
- andere
- Other, different, or remaining persons or things.
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