Oct 1, 2009 13:06
14 yrs ago
English term

Matilda Who Told Lies, and was Burned to Death

English to German Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Poem
This is not a terminology question as such, but I'm desperately (and of course urgently) looking for the German translation of the above poem by Hilaire Belloc. To my knowledge there are two translations available in print - one by Harry Rowohlt (Matilda, die so schrecklich log) and one by Hans-Magnus Enzensberger.

Here's the English original:

I'd be really grateful for either version.
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,
It made one Gasp and Stretch one’s Eyes;
Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
Attempted to Believe Matilda:
The effort very nearly killed her,
And would have done so, had not She
Discovered this Infirmity.
For once, towards the Close of Day,
Matilda, growing tired of play,
And finding she was left alone,
Went tiptoe to the Telephone
And summoned the Immediate Aid
Of London’s Noble Fire-Brigade.
Within an hour the Gallant Band
Were pouring in on every hand,
From Putney, Hackney Downs, and Bow
With Courage high and Hearts a-glow
They galloped, roaring through the Town
‘Matilda’s House is Burning Down!’
Inspired by British Cheers and Loud
Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
They ran their ladders through a score
Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;
And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
The Pictures up and down the House,
Until Matilda’s Aunt succeeded
In showing them they were not needed;
And even then she had to pay
To get the men to go away!
It happened that a few Weeks later
Her Aunt was off to the Theatre
To see that Interesting Play
The Second Mrs Tanqueray
She had refused to take her Niece
To hear this Entertaining Piece:
A Deprivation Just and Wise
To Punish her for Telling Lies.
That night a Fire did break out –
You should have heard Matilda Shout!
You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,
And throw the window up and call
To people passing in the Street –
(The rapidly increasing Heat
Encouraging her to obtain
Their confidence) – but all in vain!
For every time She shouted ‘Fire!’
They only answered ‘Little Liar’!
And therefore when her Aunt returned,
Matilda, and the House, were Burned.

Discussion

Damian Harrison (X) Oct 1, 2009:
Maybe here I guess what you really need is someone In Germany with a libary card and a scanner to help.
Maybe someone here can help you.
http://lovegermanbooks.blogspot.com/
Anke Vogelhuber (asker) Oct 1, 2009:
Hallo Hans! Ich hatte mich wohl missverständlich ausgedrückt. Ich will genau eine dieser beiden Versionen! Das Problem ist, ich komme in England nicht bis zum Abgabetermin selbst an diese ran. Deshalb mein "Hilferuf" hier.
Hans G. Liepert Oct 1, 2009:
Und warum nimmst Du nicht eine der beiden Versionen unserer Koryphäen?

Proposed translations

7 hrs

Mathilda, die verbrannte, weil sie immer so schrecklich log

Mathilda, die verbrannte, weil sie immer so schrecklich log
http://www.echthoerbuch.de/makepage.php?rsl_rewritepar=1370/...
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2 days 38 mins

habe beide dt. übersetzungen digital vorliegen

Hallo, ich habe sowohl die von Enzensberger als auch die von Rowohlt, bereits vor Jahren für einen anderen Zweck eingescannt als Pagis-Pro-Datei (*.xif) und kann sie auch schnell in Tiff-Dateien (*.tif) konvertieren, nur kann ich sie Dir erst dann schicken, wenn Du mir gegenüber erklärst, dass du für die Einhaltung der Urheberrechte an der Übersetzung sorgst. Sobald ich die habe, kann ich Dir beide mailen. Okay?
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