Wednesday, December 26, 2012

German: Als der Nikolaus kam


Chris here again with a Christmas-related post for fellow German teachers/learners. In 1947 the German author Erich Kästner translated "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas") into German. Below is that translation:

Als der Nikolaus kam
German by Erich Kästner (1947)

In der Nacht vor dem Christfest, da regte
   im Haus
sich niemand und nichts, nicht mal
   eine Maus.
Die Strümpfe, die hingen paarweis
   am Kamin
und warteten drauf, daß Sankt Niklas
   erschien.
Die Kinder lagen gekuschelt
   im Bett
und träumten vom Äpfel- und
   Nüsseballett.

Die Mutter schlief tief, und auch ich
   schlief brav,
wie die Murmeltiere im
   Winterschlaf,
als draußen vorm Hause ein
   Lärm losbrach,
daß ich aufsprang und dachte: Siehst
   rasch einmal nach!
Ich rannte zum Fenster und, fast noch
   im Lauf,
stieß ich die knarrenden
   Läden auf.

Es hatte geschneit, und der
   Mondschein lag
so silbern auf allem, als sei's
   heller Tag.
Acht winzige Renntierchen kamen
   gerannt,
vor einen ganz, ganz kleinen Schlitten
   gespannt!
Auf dem Bock saß ein Kutscher, so alt
   und so klein,
daß ich wußte, das kann nur der
   Nikolaus sein!

Die Renntiere kamen daher wie
   der Wind,
und der Alte, der pfiff, und er rief
   laut: "Geschwind!
Renn, Renner! Tanz, Tänzer! Flieg,
   fliegende Hitz'!
Hui, Sternschnupp'! Hui, Liebling! Hui,
   Donner und Blitz!
Die Veranda hinauf und die
   Hauswand hinan!
Immer fort mit euch! Fort mit euch! Hui,
   mein Gespann!"

Wie das Laub, das der Herbststurm die
   Straßen lang fegt
und, steht was im Weg, in den Himmel
   hoch trägt,
so trug es den Schlitten hin auf
   unser Haus
samt dem Spielzeug und samt dem
   Sankt Nikolaus!
Kaum war das geschehen, vernahm ich
   schon schwach
das Stampfen der zierlichen Hufe
   vom Dach.

Dann wollt' ich die Fensterläden
   zuzieh'n,
da plumpste der Nikolaus in den
   Kamin!
Sein Rock war aus Pelzwerk, vom Kopf
   bis zum Fuß.
Jetzt klebte er freilich voll
   Asche und Ruß.
Sein Bündel trug Nikolaus
   huckepack,
so wie die Hausierer bei uns
   ihren Sack.

Zwei Grübchen, wie lustig! Wie blitzte
   sein Blick!
Die Bäckchen zartrosa, die Nas' rot
   und dick!
Der Bart war schneeweiß, und der
   drollige Mund
sah aus wie gemalt, so klein und
   halbrund.
Im Munde, da qualmte ein
   Pfeifenkopf,
und der Rauch, der umwand wie ein
   Kranz seinen Schopf.

--- [Kästner seemingly chose not to translate two lines from the original English version]

Ich lachte hell, wie er so vor
   mir stand,
ein rundlicher Zwerg aus dem
   Elfenland.
Er schaute mich an und schnitt
   ein Gesicht,
als wollte er sagen: "Nun, fürchte
   dich nicht!"
Das Spielzeug stopfte er, eifrig
   und stumm,
in die Strümpfe, war fertig, drehte
   sich um,
hob den Finger zur Nase, nickte
   mir zu,
kroch in den Kamin und war fort
   im Nu!

In den Schlitten sprang er und pfiff
   dem Gespann,
da flogen sie schon über Täler
   und Tann.
Doch ich hört' ihn noch rufen, von fern
   klang es sacht:
"Frohe Weihnachten allen, - und allen
   gut' Nacht!"

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