Who is Alison ?

[Paddex]

From the poem written by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart. The full poem tells the story of a trout being caught by a fisherman, but in its final stanza reveals its purpose, as a moral piece warning young women to guard against young men....

When Schubart wrote the poem, he was imprisoned for political reasons and the poem describes his situation - to make it not too offensive he added the last stanza, rather to hide the original meaning.

[Michael]

The last Stanza added, make off it what you wish.....

In a clear stream in happy haste
The impulsive trout darted by like an arrow.
I stood on the bank and watch in sweet quiet
The bath of the lively fish in the clear stream.

A fisherman with his rod stood on the bank
And saw cold-bloodedly how the fish moved about
So long as the water stays clear, I thought,
He won’t catch the trout with his fishing rod.

At last the thief became impatient.
He maliciously made the stream opaque
And I thought, his rod quaked
The fish, the fish was writhing on it,
And I, filled with rage within, looked at the deceived.

You who linger at the Golden Spring
Of a safe youth,
Contemplate the trout;
Recognize her danger, and hurry!
Generally she is missing only
Wisdom. Maidens, keep an eye on
That seducer with the rod! –
Lest you bleed too late.

[Chalky]

Judging by the date on your book Paddex it was a sad time but can you translate the message ? Kind Regards Jacko.

[Paddex]

Judging by the date on your book Paddex it was a sad time but can you translate the message ? Kind Regards Jacko.

For you, my dear Papa, for the war-christmas 1944, from your Gundel (an abbreviation of Gundula)

[Michael]

Judging by the date on your book Paddex it was a sad time but can you translate the message ? Kind Regards Jacko.

For you, my dear Papa, for the war-christmas 1944, from your Gundel (an abbreviation of Gundula)

It makes you think, another glimpse into a forgotten past, what happened to those folks?.....

[Chalky]

Thank you Paddex, lets hope they made it and had many happy years fishing. Best wishes Jacko.