KudoZ home » German to English » Poetry & Literature

Knecht Ruprecht Poem Translation

English translation: I came here from the forest

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.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	Knecht Ruprecht Poem Translation
English translation:	I came here from the forest
Entered by:	Kim Metzger

Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

19:24 May 23, 2004

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

German term or phrase: Knecht Ruprecht Poem Translation

I am in desperate need of the translation of Theodor Storm's
Knecht Ruprecht Poem.
Thanks in Advance.
Uwe H. Bimberg

Uwe H. Bimberg

Snippets

Explanation:
I haven't been able to find the complete translation. But here are a few snippets.

Knecht Ruprecht - Santa's Helper

I came here from the forest
I tell you, it is a very holy night!
All over the tips of the firs
I saw bright flashes of golden light ...

"hast the Sack with you?"
I spoke: "the Sack, that is here;
because apples, nuts and almond core
eat pious children gladly."
"hast the rod also with you?"
I spoke: "the rod, it is here;
but for the children, only the bad,
those it meets them right, upon their part."
(translated excerpt of 'Farmhand Ruprecht' by Theodor Storm)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/knecht_ruprecht

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 07:22

Grading comment

I was surprised that somethging is still free in this world. Thank you so much for your very reality near translation. Your translation was the best of all. Thanks again!
Uwe H. Bimberg
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +4

As below

Robert Tucker

4 +2

s.u.

Melanie Nassar

an alternative translation

Ken Cox

Snippets

Kim Metzger

Answers

19 mins confidence:

Snippets

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 07:22
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 201

Grading comment

I was surprised that somethging is still free in this world. Thank you so much for your very reality near translation. Your translation was the best of all. Thanks again!
Uwe H. Bimberg

36 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

As below

Explanation:

I came here from the forest
I tell you, it is a very holy night!
All over the tips of the firs
I saw bright flashes of golden light;
And from above, the gates of heaven
I saw with open eyes the Christ-child
and as I wander through the dark forest
I hear a light voice calling me.
”Knecht Ruprecht“ it called, ”Old man
Lift your legs and hurry! Fast!

The candles alight
the gates of heaven open wide
old and young
shall rest from the hunt of life
and tomorrow I shall fly to earth
as it shall be Christmas again!“

I said: ”O dear master, Christ
My trip is almost at an end;
It is only this one town / where the children are good“.
”Do you have your sack with your?“
I said: ”The sack, it is here;
apples, nuts and almonds
solemn children do enjoy“.
”Do you also have your cane?“
I said: ”The cane, it is here.
But only for the bad children,
to hit their right rear“.

The Christ-child spoke: ”That is good;
So go with god my faithful servant!“
I came here from the forest
I tell you, it is a very holy night!
Speak now how I find it here
Are the children good or bad?

Reference: http://www.sutter.de/weihnachtslexikon/deutsch/ruprecht.htm

Robert Tucker
Local time: 13:22
Native speaker of:

English

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

s.u.

Explanation:

Knecht Ruprecht
Theodor Storm (1817–1888)

Von drauß' vom Wald komm ich her;
ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
All überall auf den Tannenspitzen
sah ich goldene Lichtlein sitzen;
und droben aus dem Himmelstor
sah mit großen Augen das Christkind hervor.

Und wie ich so strolcht' durch den finstern Tann,
da rief's mich mit heller Stimme an:
"Knecht Ruprecht", rief es, "alter Gesell,
hebe die Beine und spute dich schnell!
Die Kerzen fangen zu brennen an,
das Himmelstor ist aufgetan.

Alt' und Junge sollen nun
von der Jagd des Lebens einmal ruhn;
und morgen flieg ich hinab zur Erden;
denn es soll wieder Weihnachten werden!"

Ich sprach: "O lieber Herre Christ,
meine Reise fast zu Ende ist;
ich soll nur noch in diese Stadt,
wo's eitel gute Kinder hat."

"Hast denn das Säcklein auch bei dir?"
Ich sprach: "Das Säcklein, das ist hier:
Denn Äpfel, Nuss und Mandelkern
essen fromme Kinder gern."

"Hast denn die Rute auch bei dir?"
Ich sprach: "Die Rute, die ist hier;
doch für die Kinder nur, die schlechten,
die trifft sie auf den Teil, den rechten.
Christkindlein sprach: "So ist es recht!
So geh mit Gott, mein treuer Knecht!"

Von drauß' vom Walde komm ich her;
ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Nun sprecht, wie ich's hier drinnen find!
Sind's gute Kind sind's böse Kind?
http://www.christmasmagazine.com/german/spirit/weihnachtsman...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2004-05-23 19:43:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oh, sorry, I see you need the translation.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2004-05-23 20:04:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but if you want a good laugh, there is a machine translation here:
In English:

Of drauss, from the forest come I;
I must say you, it weihnachtet very much!
ALL everywhere on the fir points
I saw golden light flax sitting,
and up there from the sky gate
the Christian child saw out with large eyes.
And as I strolcht in such a way by the dark Tann,
there rief\'s me with bright voice on:
\"farmhand Ruprecht\", called it, \"older associates,
lifts the legs and spute you fast!
The candles begin to burn,
the sky gate are opened,
old persons and boy are now
from the hunt of the life once ruhn;
and tomorrow fly \' I down there to ground
connection, because it is to become again
Christmas!\" I spoke: \"O dear Herr Christian,
my journey almost to end is;
I am only into this city,
wo\'s vainly good children have.\"
\"haste the Saecklein also with you?\"
I spoke: \"the Saecklein, that is here;
because apples, nut and almond core
eat pious children gladly.\"
\"haste the rod also with you?\"
I spoke: \"the rod, those is here;
but for the children only, it meets the bad
the section, the right.\"
Christian child flax spoke: \"like that it is quite;
thus go with God, my faithful farmhand!\"
Of drauss, from the forest come I;
I must say you, it weihnachtet very much!
Now speaks, how ich\'s here inside find \'!
Sind\'s good child, sind\'s bad child?
http://www.hu-berlin.de/advent2001/12/index1.html

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2004-05-23 20:04:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry, I couldn\'t resist it.

Melanie Nassar
Palestine
Local time: 14:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

1 day4 hrs confidence:

an alternative translation

Explanation:
As I find the English of the other translations rather quaint, I've taken the liberty of making a translation in modern English. I make no claim to being a literary translator, so I've made no attempt to preserve historical nuance, etc. (most of which I wouldn't know anyhow), and although I've basically tried to maintain a natural rhythm, I've not tried to match the rhyme of the original (I have no talent for rhyme).

I just came in from the forest now,
And I must say, it’s really Christmas weather!
I saw the firs all tipped with golden light,
and high above in Heaven, the Christ Child,
gazing out over the world.

And as I roamed through the dark woods,
A clear voice called out to me:
‘Ruprecht’, it said, ‘my faithful fellow,
Lift a leg, and show some speed!
The candles are already lit,
and Heaven’s gate has opened.’

Now it’s time for young and old
to rest a while from life’s hard chase;
and tomorrow, I’ll descend to Earth,
to celebrate my birthday once again.

I said, ‘O my dear Lord Christ,
my journey is nearly done;
there’s only this one city left to visit,
where the children are all good – every one.’

‘And do you have your sack with you?’’
I said, ‘I do, the sack’s right here,
with apples, nuts and almonds –
all the things good children like to eat.’

‘And you have the switch with you?’
I said, ‘I do, the switch is here,
but only for the naughty ones,
who’ll feel it where it hurts.’
The Christ Child said, ‘That’s OK then!
Go with God, my faithful friend.’

I just came in from the forest now,
and I must say, it’s really Christmas weather!
Now tell me please, what have we here?
Have you been naughty, or have you been nice?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 10 hrs 38 mins (2004-05-25 06:03:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thought, I prefer \'A good child now, or naughty?\' for the final line. \'Have you been naughty, or have you been nice?\' is to much like a Christmas jingle, and it doesn\'t fit the metre of the rest that well (not that the translation has a particularly consistent metre...). \'A good child, or a bad one?\' would also be possible, but I much prefer \'naughty\' here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 14 hrs 46 mins (2004-05-25 10:10:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Also, the line \'And you have the switch with you?\' should read \'And do you...\'

Ken Cox
Local time: 14:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 35

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

Knecht Ruprecht Poem Translation

English translation: I came here from the forest

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

Answers

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.

Knecht Ruprecht Poem Translation

English translation: I came here from the forest

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

Answers

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.