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Wenn leichtbeflügelt mir das Gold Den falschen Rücken wendet, -- Und selten ist's dem Sänger hold -- So bleib' ich unverblendet; Ich laufe nie, zu meiner Schmach, Dem ungetreuen Flüchtling nach; Wer wollt' in seinem Leben Was Feindliches erstreben? Nein! mag es immerhin mit Klang Und Glanz die Welt berücken! Ich binde meinen Sorgendrang Den Winden auf den Rücken, Und statt des Goldes Flittertand Nehm ich die Laut' in meine Hand, Und sing', im Flammentriebe Des Busens, von der Liebe. Kaum sieht der Flüchtling sich verschmäht, So kömmt er schmeichelnd wieder, Und raunt in's Ohr mir früh und spät: Wirf deine Laute nieder! Er beut auf schimmervoller Bahn Zu neuen Diensten sich mir an, Und jagt die holden Musen Hinweg aus meinem Busen. Gold, treuvergeßner Bösewicht! Hör auf mich zu bethören, Und wag's mit Schmeichelreden nicht Die Ruhe mir zu stören! Mehr ist die Laute mir als Gold, Sie wirbet nur um süßern Sold, Und Lieder giebt sie nimmer Für deinen Glanz und Schimmer. Du machtest mir den Amor taub, Wenn ich dir länger traute, Bestreutest mir mit güldnem Staub Die vielgeliebte Laute; Und endlich würde mir wohl gar Der Wonnebecher süß und klar, Der Becher keuscher Liebe, Durch deine Bosheit trübe. Drum zieh', o Flüchtling! Zieh' nur fort, Und flüstre mir nicht wieder Dein schmeichlerisch Verführerwort Zum Klange meiner Lieder! Denn locktest du mich noch so sehr, Die Laute gäb' ich doch nicht her; Mit deinen Flitterstrahlen Magst du bey Bettlern prahlen!
Confirmed with Anakreon und Sappho: eine Nachbildung für den deutschen Gesang von W. Gerhard, Leipzig: bei Friedrich August Leo, 1818, pages 117-119
Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Gold und Laute" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anacreon (c582BCE - c485BCE) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Wilhelm Ehlers (1774 - 1845), "Gold und Laute", 1817 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Gold and Lute", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-12
Line count: 48
Word count: 242
When, with airy wings, gold Turns its false back on me, -- And it is only seldom well-disposed toward musicians -- I remain unperturbed; To my disgrace, I never run After the unfaithful fugitive; Who would in life Strive for something adversarial? No! may it continue to beguile The world with sound and radiance! I bind the compulsion of my anxieties Upon the back of the winds, And instead of gold’s trumpery I take my lute into my hands And, in the flaming urgency Of my bosom, sing of love. As soon as the fugitive sees himself scorned He returns with flattery, And, early and late, he whispers in my ear: Put down your lute! Upon a shimmering pathway he offers himself Anew as a servant to me, And chases the lovely muses From my bosom. Gold, disloyal villian! Leave off beguiling me, And do not dare to disturb my peace With flattering speeches! My lute is worth more than gold to me, It only woos for sweeter recompense, And it never trades songs For your radiance and shimmer. You would make Amor deaf If I trusted you any longer, You would bestrew my much-loved lute With your golden dust; And in the end even the sweet and clear goblet, The goblet of chaste love, Would become turbid By dint of your evilness. Therefore onward, oh fugitive! Only move onward, And do not again whisper Your flattering, seductive words To the sounds of my songs! For no matter how much you may tempt me, I shall never give up my lute; With your beams of frippery You may boast to the company of beggars!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Gold und Laute"
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anacreon (c582BCE - c485BCE) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2017-11-19
Line count: 48
Word count: 273