Translation of the song Hob XXVb:4 An die frauen artist Joseph Haydn

Nature gave steers horns;

Nature gave bulls horns,

She gave horses hooves,

she gave horses hooves,

The hares swift feet,

quick feet rabbits,

The lions wide jaws;

to the lions broad jaws;

To the fish she gave fins,

she gave the fish fins,

and wings to the birds;

and wings suitable for birds;

To men, to men, however, she gave wisdom.

to men, but to men wisdom.

To men! ... not to women?

To men! Not to women?

What did she give to them?

What did she give them?

Beauty, beauty.

Beauty, beauty.

Instead of all our spears,

Instead of all our spears,

Instead of all our shields --

instead of all our shields;

For against the beauty of women

because to the beauty of women

Neither steel nor fire can triumph.

neither steel nor fire resists.