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T'was the night before
Christmas |
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Übersetzung von Erich Kästner |
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Es hatte geschneit, und der Mondschein lag
so silbern auf allem, als sei's heller Tag.
Acht winzige Rentierchen kamen gerannt,
vor einen ganz, ganz kleinen Schlitten gespannt!
Auf dem Bock saß ein Kutscher, so alt und so klein,
daß ich wußte, das kann nur der Nikolaus sein! |
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Die Rentiere kamen daher wie der Wind,
und der Alte, der pfiff, und er rief: "Geschwind!
Renn, Renner! Tanz, Tänzer! Flieg, fliegende Hitz'!
Hui, Sternschnupp'! Hui, Liebling! Hui, Donner und
Blitz!
Die Veranda hinauf, und die Hauswand hinan!
Immer fort mit euch! Fort mit euch! Hui, mein
Gespann!" |
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Wie das Laub, das der Herbststurm die Straßen lang
fegt |
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und, steht was im Weg, in den Himmel hoch trägt, |
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so trug es den Schlitten auf unser Haus |
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samt dem Spielzeug und samt dem Sankt Nikolaus! |
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Kaum war das geschehen, vernahm ich schon schwach |
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das Stampfen der zierlichen Hufe vom Dach. |
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Dann wollt' ich die Fensterläden zuzieh'n,
da plumpste der Nikolaus in den Kamin!
Sein Rock war aus Pelzwerk, vom Kopf bis zum Fuß.
Jetzt klebte er freilich voll Asche und Ruß.
Sein Bündel trug Nikolaus huckepack,
so wie die Hausierer bei uns ihren Sack. |
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Zwei Grübchen, wie lustig! Wie blitzte sein Blick!
Die Bäckchen zartrosa, die Nas' rot und dick!
Der Bart war schneeweiß, und der drollige Mund
sah aus wie gemalt, so klein und halbrund.
Im Munde, da qualmte ein Pfeifenkopf,
und der Rauch, der umwand wie ein Kranz seinen
Schopf. |
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Ich lachte hell, wie er so vor mir stand,
ein rundlicher Zwerg aus dem Elfenland.
Er schaute mich an und schnitt ein Gesicht,
als wollte er sagen: "Nun, fürchte dich nicht!"
Das Spielzeug stopfte er, eifrig und stumm,
in die Strümpfe, war fertig, drehte sich um,
hob den Finger zur Nase, nickte mir zu,
kroch in den Kamin und war fort im Nu! |
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In den Schlitten sprang er und pfiff dem Gespann,
da flogen sie schon über Tal und Tann.
Doch ich hört' ihn noch rufen, von fern klang es
sacht:
"Frohe Weihnachten allen, und allen gut' Nacht!" |
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T'was the night before
Christmas |
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Englische Originalversion |
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'Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. |
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. |
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. |
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The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. |
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With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by
name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!, Now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!, On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" |
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. |
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And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing of reindeer and pawing of each little
hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. |
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He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. |
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His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples - how
merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; |
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He had a broad face and a little round belly, |
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That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of
jelly. |
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, |
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And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. |
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A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, |
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He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a
jerk,
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; |
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He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. |
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But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, |
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"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" |
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Clement Clarke Moore |
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