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Es war ein Edelknabe, Der liebt' ein' Jungfrau hold, Und warb um süße Gabe, Um keuschen Minnesold. Die Jungfrau war so stolz und rein, Sie sprach: "ich will mein eigen seyn; Ich bleibe bis zum Grabe Wohl frank und frey allein." Als an der Felsenquelle Sie froh sich einst ergeht, Hat in die flücht'ge Welle Der Wind ihr Tuch geweht. Der Edelknecht, voll Liebesgluth, Sprang freudig wagend in die Fluth, Und bracht' es ihr zur Stelle Zurück mit frohen Muth. "Wie kannst Du's redlich meinen?" Sprach sie ihn zürnend an. "Dieß Wagniß hat den Deinen Im Herzen weh gethan. Wer nicht den Gram der Ältern ehrt, Ist keiner keuschen Jungfrau werth. Magst lachen oder weinen, Mein' Huld bleibt Dir verwehrt." Einst focht der Knappe eben Mit seines Stammes Feind, Und als auf Tod und Leben Zu siegen er gemeint, Da rief die Herzgeliebte ihn, Geboth, das Schwert zurück zu ziehn, Und ihrem Wink ergeben, Ließ er den Feind entfliehn. Ein Graf lag hart gefangen, Den hieß sie ihn befreyn, Und eifersücht'ges Bangen Nahm seinen Busen ein. Doch sammelt' er der Freunde Schar, Und stürmte kühn und offenbar, Bis in den Thurm sie drangen, Und frey der Grafe war. Er zeigt mit dieser Kunde Dem süßen Weibe sich, Und hört aus ihrem Munde: "Mein Freund, ich liebe Dich." Da hob der herrliche Gewinn Zu rasch empor ihm Brust und Sinn, Und aus verborgner Wunde Floß Blut und Leben hin.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 40-42
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Liebesproben" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Daniel Friedrich Rudolph Kuhlau (1786 - 1832), "Liebesproben", op. 106 no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Tests of love", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-10-30
Line count: 48
Word count: 238
There was a noble lad Who loved a beautiful maiden, And wooed for sweet gifts, For chaste recompense of love. The maiden was proud and pure, She spoke: "I wish to belong to myself; To my grave I shall remain Well and truly alone." Once when at the rocky water-spring She was happily walking, The wind blew her scarf Into the fleeting wave. The young squire, aglow with love, Sprang into the flood with joyful daring, And on the spot he brought it Back to her with a happy spirit. "How can you say you have honourable intentions?" She said to him angrily. "This risk you took caused Pain to the hearts of your loved ones. He who does not honour the sorrow of his parents Is not worthy of a chaste maiden. You may laugh or you may weep, My favour remains denied to you." Once, the squire was just Fencing with the enemy of his clan, And as he was certain of his victory In the battle of life and death, His heart’s beloved called out to him, Commanded him to draw back his sword, And, obedient to her signal, He let the enemy escape. An earl lay in a harsh prison; She commanded him to liberate him, And jealous anxiety Filled his bosom. But he assembled a group of friends, And, courageously and openly, they stormed forward Until they penetrated into the tower, And the earl was free. With this news he appeared Before the sweet woman, And from her lips he heard: "My friend, I love you." Thereupon the glorious prize Too quickly lifted his bosom and spirit, And from a concealed wound His lifeblood drained away.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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 Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Liebesproben"
This text was added to the website: 2015-10-30
Line count: 48
Word count: 281