Der Zauberlehrling [English translation]

Good! The sorcerer, my old master

left me here alone today!

Now his spirits, for a change,

my own wishes shall obey!

Having memorized

what to say and do,

with my powers of will I can

do some witching, too!

Go, I say,

Go on your way,

do not tarry,

water carry,

let it flow abundantly,

and prepare a bath for me!

Come on now, old broom, get dressed,

these old rags will do just fine!

You're a slave in any case,

and today you will be mine!

May you have two legs,

and a head on top,

take the bucket, quick

hurry, do not stop!

Go, I say,

Go on your way,

do not tarry,

water carry,

let it flow abundantly,

and prepare a bath for me!

Look, how to the bank he's running!

and now he has reached the river,

he returns, as quick as lightning,

once more water to deliver.

Look! The tub already

is almost filled up!

And now he is filling

every bowl and cup!

Stop! Stand still!

Heed my will!

I've enough

of the stuff!

I've forgotten - woe is me!

what the magic word may be.

Oh, the word to change him back

into what he was before!

Oh, he runs, and keeps on going!

Wish you'd be a broom once more!

He keeps bringing water

quickly as can be,

and a hundred rivers

he pours down on me!

No, no longer

can I let him,

I must get him

with some trick!

I'm beginning to feel sick.

What a look! - and what a face!

O, you ugly child of Hades!

The entire house will drown!

Everywhere I look, I see

water, water, running down.

Be you damned, old broom,

why won't you obey?

Be a stick once more,

please, I beg you, stay!

Is the end

not in sight?

I will grab you,

hold you tight,

with my axe I'll split the brittle

old wood smartly down the middle.

Here he comes again with water!

Now I'll throw myself upon you,

and the sharpness of my axe

I will test, o spirit, on you.

Well, a perfect hit!

See how he is split!

Now there's hope for me,

and I can breathe free!

Woe is me! Both pieces

come to life anew,

now, to do my bidding

I have servants two!

Help me, o great powers!

Please, I'm begging you!

And they're running! Wet and wetter

get the stairs, the rooms, the hall!

What a deluge! What a flood!

Lord and master, hear my call!

Ah, here comes the master!

I have need of Thee!

from the spirits that I called

Sir, deliver me!

“Back now, broom,

into the closet!

Be thou as thou

wert before!

Until I, the real master

call thee forth to serve once more!”

• Artist:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe