Text by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
Translated into English by Joseph Massaad
deutsch | français | portugiesisch
| I have smelled on this earthly hell, Every odor there was to smell. I have tasted at my leisure, Like a hero every earthly pleasure! I drunk coffee, ate many a cake, And possessed every beauty I could take; I wore vests of silk, the best of clothing, In my purse one could hear the ducats ring. Like Gellert, I rode high on my horse's saddle, I had a house, I had a castle. I laid down on the green meadows of luck, The sun greeted me with its golden look, A crown of laurels surrounded my forehead, And sweet dreams floated in my head, Dreams of roses and eternal May -- I was blessed in a particular way, A somber soul, a dead lazy chap, It's as if roasted pigeons fell into my lap, And emptying their pockets, angels came, And offered me bottles of champagne These were visions, like bubbles of soap-- They burst --I now lay on the grass without hope, Rheumatism is laming my members, My soul is humiliated, it trembles. Oh ! every pleasure, every enjoyment, I had to pay with bitter torment; I tasted bitterness in every way And the bugs bit me in dismay; Somber worries darkened my morrow, I had to lie, I had to borrow From many an old hag or rich scamp-- I even believe, I begged like a tramp. I am now tired of running, I need to rest In my grave and recover my breath. Farewell to you up there, my Christian brothers, That we shall meet there, is all that matters. |