~ Poet: Goethe ~

Liebhaber in allen Gestalten/Lover in All Forms by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The last two stanzas of Goethe’s poem get the silent movie treatment from some guy named Dave at Apeiron Films. The complete text, and an English translation by Emily Ezust, may be read at The Leid and Arts Songs Text Page. Here’s the portion that appears in the video:

If I were all that,
I would not begrudge you;
with princely gifts,
you should have me.
If I were all that,
I would not begrudge you.

But I am just as I am;
and take me for that!
If you want something better,
then let them carve it out of you.
For I am just as I am;
and take me for that.