Hunter Poem (translated)

[Silex]

As an offspring form the craftsmen thread with the German themed horn here is my translation of the Hunter Poem by Oskar von Riesenthal (1830-1896):

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Das ist des Jägers Ehrenschild,
T'is the hunters shield of honor,

Daß er beschützt und hegt sein Wild,
To guard and foster his wild game,

Waidmännisch jagt, wie sich’s gehört,
Hunting sportsmanlike as it becomes,

Den Schöpfer im Geschöpfe ehrt!
The creator to honor within the creature!



Das Kriegsgeschoß der Haß regiert,
The war-bullet is reigned by hate,

Die Lieb’ zum Wild den Stutzen führt:
The Love of game directs the hunting gun:

Drum denk’ bei Deinem täglich Brot
So bear in mind at your daily bread

Ob auch Dein Wild nicht leidet Noth?
Whether your game is not in great want?



Behüt’s vor Mensch und Thier zumal!
Protect it from man and beast above all!

Verkürze ihm die Todesqual!
Shorten it the mortal agony!

Sei außen rauh, doch innen mild,
Outside be rough, though inside mild,

Dann bleibet blank Dein Ehrenschild!
Then it'll stay bright your honor shield!
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It is quite difficult to translate the implicit meanings. For instance "Stutzen" is generally the term for a shortbarreld fullstock gun (Jäger gun if you will). And the terms "sportsman" and "sportsmanlike" are not 100% congruent with Waidmann (Weidmann) and waidmännisch (weidmännisch). Sportsman as I understand it is more related to beeing a good shot and play fair related to humans, whereas the term "Waidmann" as a noun and "waidmännisch" (weidmännisch) as adjective is more slanted to be fair to the animal and treat it with respect. I am NOT saying a good sportman isn't using the same standards. :wink:

The first verse is still used when the new hunter is initiated. But that is another story.

Silex

 

[tenngun]

I'm reminded of MM I think it was Russel who wrote how sad he and to others were to kill a buffalo for just three mendinner. They chose the poorest of the heard. I think every hunter should love the game." we dont disscuss religion"but I feel closer to the holy when hunting.

 

[agill]

Thank you for translating! :hatsoff:

 

[mudd turtle]

Danke fur die translation. Erich .

 

[Wes/Tex]

I truly thank you for doing a translation, it's such a meaningful verse. I still remember when I showed it to Alfred, he tried hard to not only translate the words but the thoughts behind them, the real hard part of any translation. Just before you sent your post, one of the guys from another group who'd seen the original post sent me a copy of what Jagermeister had put up on their site. I laughed to myself because checking with Wikipedia to see what the maker thought never occurred to me.

"It is the hunter's honor that he
Protects and preserves his game,
Hunts sportsman like, honors the
Creator in Hi creatures."

They also attempted to keep some rhyme in the verse and also gave the following:

"This is the hunters badge of glory,
That he protect and tend his quarry,
Hunt with honor, as is due,
And through the beast to God be true."

Obviously, when you attempt to rhyme a verse it gets even farther from the actual accurate translation of another language. Thanks again for your post here. I appreciate your time and expertise. Vielen dank! Wes

 

[Spikebuck]

In any of the three translations shown, if one already knows and practices it in one's heart, all three are understood. :thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

I agree absolutely. Can't believe this all started as some of my off-the-wall ideas for a very nice horn! :wink: :haha:

 

[tenngun]

Relitivity started with a guy on a trolly wondering what the world would look like if you were going real fast.

 

[Silex]

:grin:

Well that happens sometimes.
I can't believe there are 148 replies on grits in the cooking forum and I didn't have the chance to tast it...

When I was travelling in the south I never came across it - but it sounds like something I would like.

Silex

 

[Billnpatti]

It is amazing how a great mind can see and understand more auf einen augenblick (in the blink of an eye) than the rest of us will see or understand in a lifetime.

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Thanks for posting this with translation. :thumbsup:

I believe the first time I saw "waidmanns heil" it was from a post of Kerrmeister.

 

[Alden]

:grin:

Well that happens sometimes.
I can't believe there are 148 replies on grits in the cooking forum and I didn't have the chance to tast it...

When I was travelling in the south I never came across it - but it sounds like something I would like.

Silex

Gott in himmel -- das ist NICHT richtig. Bitte, meine deutch ist nicht so gut jetzt. Iche vergesse zuviel...

Want to try grits? Do you have wallpaper? I know you had wall paper hangers... Find some flour-based wallpaper paste. Boil it till it is a little lumpy, thicker than you'd want to brush. Now eat it. Except for having a little more, and better, taste it is similar to grits.

There are many things you could be sorry for not experiencing here mein Herr, aber grits? Nein!

 

[Wes/Tex]

Don't mind Alden...he was bit by the Grits Gremlin when he was a kid! :rotf: