by
Gustav Pfarrius (1800 - 1884)
Das Irrlicht
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Irrlichtchen fein und klein,
Kannst nicht gefährlich sein,
Bist lustig anzuschau'n, --
Doch will ich dir nicht trau'n.
Irrlichtchen, wie du hüpfst,
Durch Busch und Gräser schlüpfst! --
Mir ist des Baches Rand
Und Wies' und Wald bekannt.
Irrlichtchen, wie du lockst,
Bald eilst, bald wieder stockst! --
Ich halte fest den Pfad,
Auf dem ins Thal ich trat.
Irrlichtchen, bist getreu,
Ich seh' dich ohne Scheu,
Wer trüg'risch dich genannt,
Dem fehlte der Verstand.
Irrlichtchen bist -- o weh,
Im Unkensumpf ich steh'!
Verwirrung, Nacht und Graus!
Wer hilft mir hier heraus?
Confirmed with Gustav Pfarrius, Die Waldlieder, Köln: Verlag der M. DuMont-Schonberg'schen Buchhandlung, 1850, page 13
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "Will-o'-the-wisp", 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: 2011-07-17
Line count: 20
Word count: 89
Will‑o'‑the‑wisp
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Little will-o'-the-wisp, delicate and small,
You cannot be dangerous,
You are delightful to watch, ---
But I shall not trust you.
Little will-o'-the-wisp, how you leap about,
Through bush and grasses you slip! --
I am familiar with the edge of the brook
And the meadow and the woods.
Little will-o'-the-wisp, how you entice me,
Now you hurry, now again you stay put! --
I stick firmly to the path
Upon which I entered the valley.
Little will-o'-the-wisp, you are faithful,
I look upon you without hesitation,
Whoever called you deceitful
Must not have had all his wits about him.
Little will-o'-the-wisp, -- oh woe
I’m standing in the toad-swamp!
Confusion, night and horror!
Who shall help me out of here?
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.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2017-05-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 118