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Frank Wiley
Apprentice
26 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 06 2006 : 6:17:06 PM
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http://apollo.zeit.de/bildungshappen/frage.php?quiz_f_id=551
It's a quiz question on die Zeit about Schiller's epi-writtenthingy. Oh and it's in German...
Gewissensskrupel
Gern dien' ich den Freunden,
doch tu' ich es leider mit Neigung,
Und so wurmt es mir oft,
dass ich nicht tugendhaft bin.
Scruple of Conscience
I serve my friends willingly (gladly),
though with unfortunate pleasure,
and it worries me quite often
that I am not virtuous. |
Edited by - Frank Wiley on Nov 06 2006 9:33:33 PM |
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Tom Trelogan
Forum Admin
1368 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2006 : 12:43:23 AM
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Joey,
Excellent detective work! But there’s more—another whole couplet called “Decisum” (“Decision”) that’s clearly meant to complete the epigram. The entire thing goes like this:
Gewissenskrupel
Gerne dien’ ich den Freunden, doch thu’ ich es leider mit Neigung
Und so wurmt es mir oft, daß ich nicht tugendhaft bin.
Decisum
Da ist kein andrer Rat, du mußt suchen sie zu verachten
Und mit Abscheu alsdann thun, wie die Pflicht dir gebeut.
In English:
Scruple of Conscience
I enjoy helping friends, but sadly I do it with pleasure,
So it often bugs me that I'm not a virtuous person.
Decision
There’s no other way: you must do your best to detest them
And then, with real loathing, do as duty commands.
Tom
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Frank Wiley
Apprentice
26 Posts |
Posted - Nov 14 2006 : 2:50:31 PM
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I had a talk with my Deutschlehrerin about the "...und so wurmt es mir oft" line. She was unfamiliar with "wurmt" as a verb. I like the translation of "bugs" for "wurmt" - just now I was toying with the idea of changing it to "and it worms me often.." I think it would be a good verb if it ever came into practice but for right now it just sounds awkward.
And it definitely sounds more complete with the decision part added. |
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Gewissensskrupel
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