Adele's Laughing Song (Mein Herr Marquis), Adele's aria from Die Fledermaus
	Singable translation by Miriam Ellis

My dear Marquis,
You've insulted me,
A most impolite thing to do.
Though you were unkind,
I am too refined
To say what I think of you.
This delicate hand is so fine;
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah;
This foot of such tiny design,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah;
My diction is perfection,
My bearing, my complexion--
You'll never see such features 
In a lady's maid;
You'll never see the charms
That you find here displayed.
You really must admit, in fact,
Your words were quite devoid of tact!
You're amusing, ha, ha, ha,
You're delightful, ha, ha, ha,
Can't help laughing, ha, ha, ha,
Feeling spiteful, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha;
You're amusing, ha, ha, ha,
You're delightful, ha, ha, ha,
Can't help laughing, ha, ha, ha,
Feeling spiteful, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha;
A comical mistake, Marquis.

Look at this profile,
In the Grecian style,
A beauty of classical charms,
With a perfect smile,
Full of youthful guile,
A Venus with both her arms.
Perhaps you should use a lorgnette
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
To study my trim silhouette,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
It's clear your eyes deceive you;
Of doubt let me relieve you:
You're wrong to think that I'm
Your precious ladies' maid;
Your mind is filled with visions of her, I'm afraid.
You think you see her face in me;
How wrong you are, my dear Marquis!
You're amusing, ha, ha, ha,
You're delightful, ha, ha, ha,
Can't help laughing, ha, ha, ha,
Feeling spiteful, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha;
You're amusing, ha, ha, ha,
You're delightful, ha, ha, ha,
Can't help laughing, ha, ha, ha,
Feeling spiteful, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha;
A comical mistake, Marquis, etc.

Mein Herr Marquis, ein Mann wie Sie, Adele's aria from Die Fledermaus

Mein Herr Marquis, ein Mann wie Sie		My dear marquis, a man like you
Sollt’ besser das verstehn,			Should better understand that,
Darum rate ich, ja genauer sich			Therefore, I advise you to look more 
Die Leute anzusehen!				Closely at people!
Die Hand ist doch wohl gar zo fein, hahaha.	This hand is surely far too fine, hahaha
Dies Füsschen so zierlich und klein, hahaha.	This foot so dainty and small, hahaha.
Die Sprache, die ich führe			The manner of speaking which I have,
Die Taille, die Tournüre,			My waist, my bustle,
Dergleichen finden Sie				These would never be found
Bei einer Zofe nie!				On a lady’s maid!
Gestehn müssen Sie fürwahr,			You really must admit,
Sehr komisch dieser Irrtum war!			This mistake was very comical!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha,			Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Ist die Sache, hahaha.				Is this matter, hahaha.
Drum verzeihn Sie, hahaha,			So pardon me, hahaha,
Wenn ich lache, hahaha!				If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha			Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Ist die Sache, hahaha!				Is this matter, hahaha!

Sehr komisch, Herr Marquis, sind Sie!		You are very comical, Marquis!
Mit dem Profil im griech’schen Stil		With this profile in Grecian style
Beschenkte mich Natur:				Being a gift of nature;
Wenn nicht dies Gesicht schon genügend spricht, If this face doesn’t say enough,
So sehn Sie die Figur!				Just look at my figure!
Schaun durch die Lorgnette Sie dann, ah,	Just look through your lorgnette, ah
Sich diese Toilette nur an, ah			At this outfit, ah
Mir scheint wohl, die Liebe			It seems to me that love
Macht Ihre Augen trübe,				Has clouded your eyes,
Der schönen Zofe Bild				The image of your chambermaid
Hat ganz Ihr Herz erfüllt!			Has quite filled your heart!
Nun sehen Sie sie überall,			Now you see her everywhere,
Sehr komisch ist fürwahr der Fall!		This is truly a very comic situation!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha			Yes very comical, hahaha
Ist die Sache, hahaha				Is this matter, ha ha ha ,
Drum verzeihn Sie, hahaha,			So pardon me , ha ha ha,
Wenn ich lache, hahaha!				If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha,			Yes very comical, ha ha ha,
Ist die Sache, hahaha  etc.			Is this matter, ha ha ha , etc.


literal translation by Lea F. Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)