(From Anna Witchas in Mortka)
Translated by Ed Bernthal

The care-taker of the calves is feeding the calves
A youth stepped into the maiden’s door.
A youth stepped into the maiden’s door.

‘Get out of my way, my loved one
So that I can feed the small calves.’
So that I can feed the small calves.’

“I will not get out of your way
Until you promise me to be my own.”
Until you promise me to be my own.”

‘I would not promise you to be yours
Till in winter roses will bloom for me.’
Till in winter roses will bloom for me.’

Immediately the youth got on his horse
And right away went to see a painter.
And right away went to see a painter.

“O painter, O paint me a rose
The first leaf should be red.“
The first leaf should be red.“

“Paint the second leaf green
And the third one nicely striped.”
And the third one nicely striped.”

The painter painted the rose for him
In a garden that shone brightly.
In a garden that shone brightly.

The youth paid the painter so much
That the table bent under its weight.
That the table bent under its weight.

He pulled out his hard-earned dollars
And also paid with gold from Lueneberg.
And also paid with gold from Lueneberg.

The youth got on his horse
And rode to the house of the maiden.
And rode to the house of the maiden.

“Here you have your rose, my loved one
Which has bloomed in the middle of the winter.”
Which has bloomed in the middle of the winter.”

‘That did not really bloom in the middle of winter
That was surely painted by the painter.’
That was surely painted by the painter.’

“Whether or not he painted it for me
The rose has bloomed in the middle of winter.”
The rose has bloomed in the middle of winter.”

‘What a dumb thing I thought and did
When I started to joke with the youth.’
When I started to joke with the youth.’

‘Since I jokingly got myself involved with him
Because of my joking, I will have to be his own!”
Because of my joking, I will have to be his own!”



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