Hofstadter n°6
„first completed translation“

Robert French II
(n°9)
(professional translator)

Deutsche Übersetzung

To a Sick Damsel

My sweet
I bid you
A good day;
The stay
Is prison.
Health
Recover,
Then open
Your door,
And go out
Quickly,
For Clément
Tells you to.
Go, indulger
Of thy mouth,
Lying abed
In danger,
Off to eat
Fruit preserves;
If thou stay’st
Too sick,
Pale shade
Thou wilt acquire,
And wilt lose
Thy plump form.
God grant thee
Good health,
My sweet.

My Sweet Dear

My sweet dear,

I send cheer —

All the best!

Your forced rest

Is like jail.

So don’t ail

Very long.

Just get strong —

Go outside,

Take a ride!

Do it quick,

Stay not sick —

Ban your ache,

For my sake!

Buttered bread

While in bed

Makes a mess,

So unless

You would choose

That bad news,

I suggest

That you’d best

Soon arise,

So your eyes

Will not glaze.

Douglas prays

Health be near,

My sweet dear.

Fairest Friend

Fairest fiend,
Let me send
My embrace.
Quit this place,
Its dark halls
And dank walls.
In soft stealth,
Regain health:
Dress and flee
off with me,
Clement, who
Calls for you.
Fine gourmet,
Hid from day,
Danger’s past,
So at last
Let ’s be gone,
To dine on
Honeyed ham
And sweet jam.
If you’re still
Wan and ill,
You will cede
Pounds you need.
May God’s wealth
Bless your health
Till the end,
Fairest friend. 

Meine Süße

Liebe Grüße

Alles Gute,

Eure Tute;

Ihr hängt fest

Drin im Nest

Kuriert und

Werdet g’sund

Saust heraus

Aus dem Haus

Kommt macht hin

Denn ich bin

Krank im Sinn

Leckere Maid

Mit der Zeit

Ruh‘ dich aus

Angst und Graus

Magst verzeihen

die Leckereien;

Verweilst du krank

Zieh ich blank

Blass‘ Gesicht

Gönne dir

Und verlier

Deine Gicht

Gebe Gott

In der Not

Mein Kleinod.