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Sieh, Doris, wie vom Mond bestrahlt Die Tanne glänzt . . . . wie schön! Vor jedem Baum hab' ich im Wald Die Tanne mir ersehn. Wie ruhig steht sie da im Thal, Gepflanzt von Gottes Hand! Es bleicht kein Reif, kein Sonnenstrahl Ihr ewiggrün Gewand. Auf ihren Ästen baut kein Wurm, Kein falscher Weih sein Nest, Und neigt sich gleich ihr Haupt im Sturm, So steht ihr Fuss doch fest. So steht sie, bis aus schwüler Luft Ein Blitz sie niederstreckt, Und dann noch haucht sie süssen Duft Bis kühles Moos sie deckt. Deckt, Doris, mich einst kühles Moos, So reiss im Mondesschein Aus unsrer Kinder Arm dich los Und wall' in diesen Hain. An meine Tanne hingelegt, Sing dann in heiterm Ton Dein Lied, das mich so oft bewegt, Das vom Hylarion. Und dringen Seufzer in das Lied, So blick' den Himmel an, Von welchem der herunter sieht, Der uns vereinen kann. Und wenn, wie von des Zephyrs Wehn, Der Tanne Wipfel bebt; So ist's mein Geist, der ungesehn Ob deinem Scheitel schwebt. Und werf' ich zu des Baumes Fuss Ein Zweiglein dir herab, So weih' es ein mit einem Kuß, Und steck' es auf mein Grab.
Confirmed with Poetische Versuche von Gottlieb Conrad Pfeffel, I. Theil, Wien: bei F.A. Schræmbl, MDCCXCI , pages 67-68
Authorship:
- by Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel (1736 - 1809), "Die Tanne", subtitle: "An Doris" [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 Wilhelm Ferdinand Halter (1750 - 1806), "Die Tanne", published 1782 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759 - 1824), "Die Tanne", subtitle: "An Doris", 1784-6 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Lieder auf ihrer Reise in Musik gesetzt, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Friedrich Wilhelm Rust (1739 - 1796), "Die Tanne", published 1796 [ voice and piano ], from Oden und Lieder aus den besten deutschen Dichtern, Zweite Sammlung, no. 2, Leipzig: Bei Georg August Grieshammer [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The fir tree", subtitle: "To Doris", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le sapin", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 200
See, Doris, how in the moonlight The fir tree shines . . . how beautiful!! Above all other trees in the forest I have chosen the fir tree. How peacefully it stands in the valley, Planted by the hand of God! No frost, no sunbeam bleaches Its eternally green garment. Upon its branches no worm, No devious hawk builds its nest, And though the fir’s head may bend in the storm, Its foot nevertheless stands fast. Thus it stands until from out the humid air A bolt of lightning topples it, And even then it exudes a sweet scent Until it is covered by cool moss. When someday, Doris, I am covered by cool moss, In the moonlight tear yourself From the arms of our children And walk into this grove. Lying beneath my fir tree, Sing in cheerful tones Your song that so often moved me, The one about Hylarion. And should sighs enter the song, Then look up toward Heaven From whence He looks down, He who can unite us. And when, as if touched by a zephyr The top of the fir tree trembles; It is my spirit that, unseen, Wafts about your hair. And if I toss a little twig Down to you at the foot of the tree, Consecrate it with a kiss And place it upon my grave.
Subtitle: "To Doris"
View text with all available footnotesAuthorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel (1736 - 1809), "Die Tanne", subtitle: "An Doris"
This text was added to the website: 2016-05-28
Line count: 36
Word count: 225