Germany. A Winter’s Tale

Text by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
translated into English by Joseph Massaad

Caput XX

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Departure | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV
XVI | XVII | XVIII | XIX | XX | XXI | XXII | XXIII | XXIV | XXV | XXVI | XXVII


When we reached Hamburg it was dark;
From Harburg it’s a one hour ride.
The stars in heaven greeted me,
The air was refreshing and mild.

And when I reached my mother’s place,
She trembled with an immense joy;
She clapped her hands and cried:
“My sweet and darling boy!

Thirteen years must have elapsed,
Since I last saw you, my sweet!
Surely, you must be starving,
Just say, what would you like to eat?

I’ve got some fish and some goose,
And lovely oranges after that.”
Then give me some fish and some goose,
And lovely oranges after that.

And while I ate with appetite,
My mother was happy and cheery;
She asked me this, she asked me that,
And many an awkward query.

“My dear child! Are you well looked after,
In this foreign land called France?
Does your wife know how to run a house?
Does she mend your shirts and pants?”

The fish is good, dear little mother,
But I mustn’t eat it while I talk,
You mustn’t bother me right now,
For I could swallow a bone and choke.

And after I ate the excellent fish,
The goose promptly followed.
Mother again asked this and that,
Some of her questions were awkward.

“My dear child! Tell me, in which country
Is it more pleasant to stay?
Here or in France? And towards which people
Would you be inclined to sway?

“The German goose, dear little mother,
Is good, but it is common understanding
That the French geese are better stuffed.
Also, their sauces are outstanding.

The oranges made their apparition,
Just after the goose took her leave.
How excellent and sweet they were
Was quite difficult to believe!

Then my mother started questioning again,
In her casual and teasing manner.
She asked about a thousand things
And many a delicate matter.

“My dear child! What are your views now?
Is your addiction still strong
For political matters?
To which party do you belong?”

The oranges, dear little mother,
Are good; I swallowed their sweet juice
With true delight. On the other hand,
For their peel, I have no use.

 

Departure | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV
XVI | XVII | XVIII | XIX | XX | XXI | XXII | XXIII | XXIV | XXV | XXVI | XXVII