Literal:
This Universal wheel, this merry-go-round
In our imagination we have found
The sun a flame, in the Cosmic lantern bound
We are mere ghosts, revolving, the flame surround.
Meaning:
In our imagination, the Cosmic Wheel
Will cause us pain and cause us heal
We find our source give life and steal
We are phantoms that think and feel.
Fitzgerald:
For in and out, above, about, below,'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,
Play'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,
Round which we Phantom Figures come and go.
German: Dieses Weltall mit dem wir uns schwindelnd drehen,
Ist wie eine Laterne anzusehen,
Drin die Sonne als Licht brennt, in bunten Reigen,
Uns Trugbilder-unseresgleichen- zu zeigen.
Literal:
The rose claimed to be Jacob of grass and dirt
A red ruby resurrected with a green skirt
I said if this is so, show a sign of your hurt
Said just take a look at my bloody shirt.
Meaning:
If you have a perceptive mind
And look closely you will find
The whole history of humankind
Jacob’s bloody shirt, even blind.
Fitzgerald:
Look to the blowing Rose about us--"Lo,Laughing," she says, "into the world I blow,
At once the silken tassel of my Purse
Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw."
German: Hor‘, was die Rosenhecke flüstert: -Schau
Wie lieblich blüh‘ ich auf im Morgenblau!
Leer meine Borse aus und überschütte
Mit lauterm Gold dem Garten wie mit Tau!-
Literal:
Anxiously I began this course
With life my awe grew even worse
Unwillingly returned with force
What was the point, I ask my source.
Meaning:
Anxiously I opened my eye
Understanding, try, try, try
Reluctantly agreed to die
Come, stay and leave, I only ask why?
Fitzgerald:
Into this Universe, and Why not knowingNor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing;
And out of it, as Wind along the Waste,
I know not Whither, willy-nilly blowing.
German: Was hat es Dir genützt, daß ich gekommen?
Was hilft‘s Dir, wenn Du einst mich fortgenommen?
Ach, keines Menschen Ohr hat je vernommen,
Wozu von hier wir gehn, wozu hierher wir gekommen?
Literal:
In the wheel of fortune the unseen vine
Drink, be merry, wait your turn in line
When it is your turn, neither cry nor whine
Everyone must taste the same deadly wine.
Meaning:
Death is fair, death is just
Longevity, though we lust.
Live joyfully, moment trust
Else life will have a high cost.
Fitzgerald:
While the Rose blows along the River Brink,With old Khayyam the Ruby Vintage drink:
And when the Angel with his darker Draught
Draws up to thee--take that, and do not shrink.
German: In jener Nacht, wo keine Sterne blinken,
Wo keines Auswegs Hoffnungsstrahlen winken.
Schrickt nicht zurück, wenn deine Reihe kommt!
Der Becher kreist, und jeder muß ihn trinken.
Literal:
O Life, you put many traps in my way
Dare to try, is what you clearly say
All that is, thy command must obey
You lead me away and call me astray.
Meaning:
I only follow the path of my heart
In desolate desert I make my start
I follow my heart, I do my part
The path of my heart is what you chart.
Fitzgerald:
Oh Thou who didst with Pitfall and with GinBeset the Road I was to wander in,
Thou wilt not with Predestination round
Enmesh me, and impute my Fall to Sin?
German: Von allen Seiten hast Du uns mit Schlingen bedroht
Und sprichst: wer hineinfällt, den trifft der Tod.
Du suchst selbst uns verlockende Fallen zu stellen
Und strafst dann, wen sie verlockt, als Rebellen.
Literal:
Why treat thy slave so cold as ice?
Where is thy light to save me from vice?
Even with command of Paradise
Where is thy gift above my just price?
Meaning:
Tyranny of fate has made me a slave
Whatever I choose, how I behave
Is only freedom within my cave;
Even if for Paradise I crave
This moment to me is all you gave.
Fitzgerald:
Oh Thou, who Man of baser Earth didst make,And who with Eden didst devise the Snake;
For all the Sin wherewith the Face of Man
Is blacken'd, Man's Forgiveness give--and take!
German: O Du, der aller Menschen Gedanken und Herzen
geprüft,
Und jeglichen wieder erhebt, der durch Schmerzen
geprüft;
Daß Du Erhebung auch mir der in Sunden
gefallen, gewährst
Fleh! Ich Dich an, o Herr! wie Du sie allen
gewährst.
Literal:
They say in heaven are beautiful lovers
Sweet taste of wine in the air hovers
Fear not if succumbed to same earthly powers
In the end the same, one discovers.
Meaning:
We strive in life so in the end
Paradise attain, to heavens ascend.
It is better our ways amend
This moment now, joyously spend.
Fitzgerald:
Said one--"Folks of a surly Tapster tell,And daub his Visage with the Smoke of Hell;
They talk of some strict Testing of us--Pish!
He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well."
German: Am jüngsten Tag weckt uns der Prüfung Horn.
Und der geliebte Freund erglüht im Zorn,
Doch muß sich alles noch zum Guten kehren.
Denn reine Güte ist des Guten Born.
Literal:
Take all the worldly goods, but in lieu
Let the beauty of nature renew
And at night on the grass like dew
And in the morn take me away from view.
Meaning:
All worldly things
Come with strings
Joy beauty brings
Of freedom sings.
Fitzgerald:
The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts uponTurns Ashes--or it prospers; and anon,
Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty Face,
Lighting a little hour or two--is gone.
German: Denk, all‘ Dein Hoffen fände auch ein Ziel,
Der Freude Garten böte Dir so viel,
Daß du in seinem Grün, dich selig dünkst-
Doch wenn der Morgen, graut, ist aus das Spiel!
Literal:
Drink wine that drives away joy and pain
And the thought of Seventy Two nations’ reign
Never withhold from such elixir again
Of which one sip will purge all that’s insane.
Meaning:
Alchemical power of joy
Our spirits upward buoy
Insane is the evil ploy
That happiness will destroy.
Fitzgerald:
The Grape that can with Logic absoluteThe Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute:
The sovereign Alchemist that in a trice
Life's leaden metal into Gold transmute;
German: Trink Wein, um Deines Herzens Unruh zu bändigen.
Und den Streit der zwei und siebzig Secten zu endigen.
Enthalte Dich nicht Dieser Alchymie:
Mit einem Kruge tausend Gebrechen heilt sie.
Literal:
Hark! Feed me wine, if you really care
Turn into ruby my face of amber
Bathe me in wine when death me ensnare
With boards of vine my coffin bear.
Meaning:
With love and joy yourself surround
Upon this earth roam free, unbound
And when you’re six feet under the ground
Your legacy of joy and love abound.
Fitzgerald:
Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide,And wash my Body whence the life has died,
And in a Windingsheet of Vine-leaf wrapt,
So bury me by some sweet Garden-side.
German: O teure Genoßen vom Trinkerorden,
Gelb wie Bernstein ist mein Antlitz geworden,
Bringt Wein um es wieder zu beleben
Und den Wangen gesunde Röte zu geben.
Und leg‘ ich mich einst zum Sterben nieder,
So wascht mit rotem Wein meine Glieder;
Das Holz des Weinstocks diene zu Truhe,
So lasst mich tragen zur ewigen Ruhe.
©
1998,
Vancouver Canada, 1999 - 2003, Los Angeles, CA
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