KudoZ home » German to English » Poetry & Literature

himmelhoch jauchzend zu Tode betrübt

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

08:41 Mar 2, 2011

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

German term or phrase: himmelhoch jauchzend zu Tode betrübt

this is actually used in a boardgame review to describe how the game play allows wild swings of fortune, keeping the players in pleasurable suspense about the eventual winner until the very end of the game.

does anybody have anybody favourite English equivalents for this Goethe quote? the context means that it doesn't have to be very literary, but I'm looking for something a bit more expressive than "rollercoaster tension."

S P Willcocks KudoZ activity Questions: 21 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) (6 closed without grading) Answers: 16
Local time: 15:21

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

now shouting in triumph, now sunk in despair

adamgajlewicz

4 +1

torn between ecstasy and agony

Textklick

now ecstatic, then whining

Thayenga

Summary of reference entries provided

Previous question

Steffen Walter

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

now shouting in triumph, now sunk in despair

Explanation:
that how Anna Swanwick translated it in Egmont:
Blissful
And tearful,
With thought-teeming brain;
Hoping
And fearing
In passionate pain;
***Now shouting in triumph,
Now sunk in despair***;—
With love's thrilling rapture
What joy can compare!
Even if it does not fit the context, I think it's a good point of departure for further rephrasing and restructuring....

Reference: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1945/1945-h/1945-h.htm

adamgajlewicz
Local time: 14:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Polish

14 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

torn between ecstasy and agony

Explanation:
Asker: "the context means that it doesn't have to be very literary". This comes from a previous suggestion (see Steffen's links) http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_english/idioms_maxims_sa... that was not accepted at the time. Nevertheless, I think it could fit nicely here.

Textklick
Local time: 13:21
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

23 hrs confidence:

now ecstatic, then whining

Explanation:
Another option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2011-03-03 08:23:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Perhaps also: one minute in heaven, the next in hell

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 14:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 8

Reference comments

4 mins peer agreement (net): +4

Reference: Previous question

Reference information:
Have you seen http://www.proz.com/kudoz/148204?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2011-03-02 08:46:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/148204

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2011-03-02 09:31:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I don't know if you used the right search page but this is the term search page: http://www.proz.com/search/

Steffen Walter
Germany
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 19

Note to reference poster

Asker: I tried running a forum search before even posting, but somehow didn't find this one. Many thanks!

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

Overview

Latest translation questions

Ask a translation question

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

himmelhoch jauchzend zu Tode betrübt

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

himmelhoch jauchzend zu Tode betrübt

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.