Bodleian quatrain nr. 109
Bodenstedt 1881 - I.2
Ich bin in stetem Kampf mit meinem Herzen, - was soll ich thun
Erinn'rung früh'rer Schuld macht mir viel Schmerzen - was soll ich thun?
Verzeihst Du, Herr, auch gnädig meine Sünden:
Das Schuldbewußtsein ist nicht auszumerzen, - was soll ich thun?
Cadell 1899 - 129
With passion ever I'm at war,
What shall I do, what shall I do?
For actions past I suffer sore,
What shall I do, what shall I do?
E'en should'st Thou all my sin wash clean,
Its stain lasts new, its stain lasts new;
What I have done, that Thou hast seen,
What shall I do, what shall I do?
Grolleau 1902 - 109
Je ne suis pas toujours maître de moi-même... que puis-je y faire?
Et je souffre pour mes actions... que puis-je y faire?
Vraiment, je crois à ton pardon généreux.
Tant j'ai honte de penser que tu as vu mes actes... mais que puis-je y faire?
Heron-Allen 1898 - 109
I do not always prevail over my nature, — but what can I do ?
and I suffer for my actions, — but what can I do ?
I verily believe that Thou wilt generously pardon me
on account of my shame that Thou hast seen what I have done, — but what can I do?
De Marthold 1910 - 109
Je ne suis pas toujours mon maître... mais qu'y puis-je?
Et je souffre de mes actions... mais qu'y puis-je?
Heureusement, je crois ton pardon généreux,
Honteux de penser que tu me vois... mais qu'y puis-je?
McCarthy 1889 - 217
I WAGE A WARFARE WITHOUT END
AGAINST MY PASSIONS, BUT WHAT CAN
I DO? THE REMEMBRANCE OF MY
INIQUITIES IS LIKE A SORE BURDEN,
BUT WHAT CAN I DO? I BELIEVE
TRULY, THAT IN THY MERCY THOU
WILT BLOT OUT MY SINS. BUT THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT MY DISHONOUR IS NOT
HID FROM THEE REMAINETH -
WHAT CAN I DO?
Nicolas 1867 - 282
Je suis en guerre continuelle avec mes passions, mais que faire?Le souvenir de mes actes me cause mille douleurs, mais que faire? J'admets que dans ta clémence tu me pardonnes mes fautes, mais la honte de savoir que tu sais ce que j'ai fait, cette honte-là reste, que faire?
Payne 1898 - 543
At war with myself and my passions aye-what shall I do?
For my actions o'ertaken with grief and dismay-what shall I do?
Grant e'en that my sins, of Thy mercy, to me Thou forgive,
Of my shame that Thou saw'st my transgressions, say-what shall I do?
Von der Porten 1927 - 109
Natur läßt sich nicht dingen, ist's nicht so?
Und Tat muß Leiden bringen, ist's nicht so?
Die Scham ob meiner Tat, die Du gesehn,
Wird zum Verzeihn Dich zwingen, ist's nicht so?
Roe 1906 - 72
My nature oft o'ercomes my might, alas!
My deeds bring woe, howe'er I fight, alas!
And though I trust God's pardon shall be mine,
The shame will never leave my sight, alas!
Rosen 1928 - 209
I am in constant conflict with my lusts - what can I do?
And I am pained by my deeds - what can I do?
Even if I admit that Thou in Thy mercy wilt pass over them,
With my shame that Thou hast seen all I have done what can I do?
Talbot 1908 - 109
I do not always o'er the flesh prevail,
I suffer for the sin: must I bewail?
Upon Thy generous pardon I rely,
Because I grieve that Thou should'st see me frail.
Thompson 1906 - 366
I fight with my desires continually. What shall I do?
And my own deeds bring constant shame to me. What shall I do?
Suppose that of Thy kindness Thou forgive?
For this my shame Thou did'st my actions see, What shall I do?
Tirtha 1941 - IX.14
My lusts prevail on me, I cannot tame,
I burn in fire, my deeds but fan the flame;
Thy mercy will forgive, but then alas!
Thou saw me sin, can I forget the shame?
Whinfield 1883 - 322
Against my lusts I ever war, in vain,
I think on my ill deeds with shame and pain;
I trust Thou wilt assoil me of my sins,
But even so, my shame must still remain.
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 172