by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
The Wandering Minstrel
Language: English
"I am bow'd down, with years, And fast flow my tears, But I wander, I mourn not, Your pity to win: 'Tis not age, want, or care, I could poverty bear 'Tis the shame of my heart That is breaking within." Thou are bow'd down with years, And fast flow thy tears, But why dost thou wander No pity to win? Were it age, were it care, We could soothe, we could share, But what is the shame Thy sad bosom within? "Oh, if thou should'st hear From splendour's high sphere The sorrow, the tale, Which these notes may convey! Think, think of past hours, Thy dear native bowers, And turn not, my love, From thy father away." 'Tis from Erin so dear The lay that we hear, Then welcome tha minstrel And welcome the lay: But where are the bowers, And what are the hours, And where is the daughter That wander'd away? "What peace thou hast known, Since from me thou hast flown! And, Eveleen, think But how wretched am I! O let me but live Thy fault to forgive, Again let me love thee, And bless thee, and die!" O cease then thy song, She has languished too long; She hoped not thy smile Of forgiveness to see: She sunk at the word, Thy voice when she heard And she lives (if she lives) But for virtue and thee.
Text Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "The Wandering Minstrel", WoO 157 no. 11 (1814-5), from 12 songs of various nationalities, no. 11 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Georg Pertz) , "Der wandernde Barde"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 48
Word count: 232
Der wandernde Barde
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
"Mein Haupt ist gebeugt, Und mein Auge ist feucht, Doch um Mitleid nicht wandr' ich Durch Regen und Nacht; Wär' es Armut und Not -- Was gilt Wein mir und Brot? 's ist im Herzen die Schmach, Die so elend mich macht!" Dein Haupt ist gebeugt, Und dein Auge ist feucht, Doch was wehrst du dem Mitleid In Regen und Nacht? Wär' es Armut und Not: Labte Wein dich und Brot, Doch was ist die Schmach, Die so elend dich macht? "Oh, wenn traurig und bang' Mein ersterbender Sang Im Taumel der Lust Dir begegnet mit Graus: Ruf verlorenes Glück, Ruf die Heimat zurück, Und weine am Herzen Des Vaters dich aus." Echt irischen Klangs War der Ton seines Sangs, Willkommen denn Sänger, Willkommen auch Lied! Was beschwörst du zurück, Du verlorenes Glück, Und was ist's mit der Maid, Die vom Vaterhaus schied? "Hast von frieden gewuβt Du im Strudel der Lust? O denk, Eveline, Wie elend ich bin! Wankt fort noch ihr Knie, Bis mein Kuβ ihr verzieh, Laβt mich liebend sie segnen Und sinken dahin!" O halt ein mit dem Sang, Schon zu lang, schon zu lang Schwand sie dahin, An Vergebung verzweifelnd für sich; Sie sank nieder vor Scham, Als dein Wort sie vernahm, Und sie lebt, wenn sie lebt, Nur für Tugend und dich.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Der wandernde Barde" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 48
Word count: 217