by James Hogg (1770 - 1835)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Could this ill world have been contriv'd
Language: English
Could this ill world have been contriv'd to stand without that mischief, woman, how peaceful bodies wou'd have liv'd, releas'd frae a' the ills sae common! But since it is the waefu' case, that man must have this teasing crony, why such a sweet bewitching face? Oh! had they no been made sae bonny! I might have roam'd wi' cheerful mind, nae sin nor sorrow to betide me, as careless as the wand'ring wind, as happy as the lamb beside me. I might have screw'd my tuneful pegs, and carol'd mountain airs fu' gayly, had we but wanted a' the Megs, wi' glossy e'en sae dark and wily. I saw the danger, fear'd the dart, the smile, the air, and a' sae taking, yet open laid my wareless heart, and got the wound that keeps me waking. My harp waves on the willow green, of wild witch notes it has nae ony, sinc' e'er I saw that pawky quean, sae sweet, sae wicked, and sae bonny.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), "Could this ill world" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Could this ill world have been contriv'd", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 16 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Wenn doch die arge böse Welt"
Researcher for this page: Caroline Diehl
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 166
Wenn doch die arge böse Welt
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Wenn doch die arge böse Welt Nur ohne Weiber könnte dauern, Des Mannes friedlich Los vergällt' Keins von den Übeln, die jetzt lauern. Warum ward ihm zu seiner Pein Dies Kamerädchen falsch und niedlich? Mußt' solch bezaubernd Bild es sein, So wundersüß und appetitlich? Ich wollte schuldlos, leichtgesinnt Durchs Leben schweifen morgen, heute, Frei wie die Wandrer: Luft und Wind, Froh wie das Lamm an meiner Seite, Hell sollten Tal und Bergeshöhn Von meiner Saiten Jubel schallen, Ach, hätt' ich nimmer nur gesehn Die Mädchen, schön und schlau vor allen! Ich kannt' und scheut' des Pfeiles Schmerz Aus ihrem Lachen, Blick und Wesen, Doch offen lag mein wehrlos Herz, Die Wund' empfing's, kann nie genesen! An grüner Weide schwanket da Mein Saitenspiel nun stumm und friedlich, Seit ich die Schmeichelkätzchen sah, So süß , so gottlos, ach, so niedlich.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Wenn doch die arge böse Welt" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), "Could this ill world"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 140