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An eines Bächleins Ufer stand ein Bäumchen schlank und kraus. Hier kohr am weichbemoosten Rand ein Hirt sein Plätzchen aus. Im Blattgesäusel mild und kühl umweht' ihn süße Ruh', Und freundlich nickt' im Wellenspiel des Bäumchens Bild ihm zu. Doch ach! Vom Hochgebirge quoll des Waßers trübe Flut, und auch im Tale braust' und schwoll hoch auf des Bächleins Wut. Das arme Bäumchen bebte sehr und schwankte auf und ab; Das Bächlein aber wild umher dem Bäumchen wühlt' ein Grab. Und als die Waßerflut verschwand, da kam der Hirt heran, Und ach! Sein armes Bäumchen fand und blickt' es traurig an, Und zog das Bäumchen sanft hinaus und hob es rasch empor. Da stand das Bäumchen schlank und kraus und schattig wie zuvor. Und horch! vom Bäumchen wundersam erscholl ein süß Getön; Das Bächlein strahlte -- sieh'! es kam ein Jüngling wunderschön. Er stieg empor aus heller Flut und sprach mit sanftem Ton: "Du warest liebevoll und gut; dein Wunsch sei auch dein Lohn!" "Nein," rief der fromme Hirt, "nicht Dank, noch Lohn gebühret mir! Sieh', unser Nachbar ist so krank; für ihn, ach, fleh' ich dir!" "Er soll genesen!" [sagte da]1 des Engels holder Mund. Da [lief der Hirt, er kam und sah:]2 der Nachbar war gesund.
Confirmed with Festbüchlein. Eine Schrift für das Volk, erstes Bändchen: Der Sonntag, zweite verbesserte Auflage, Duisberg und Essen: Bädeker und Kürzel, 1810, pages 15 - 17. Appears in Das Kleine.
1 Harder: "sprach darauf"2 Harder: "kam der Hirt in frohem Lauf;"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Adolf Krummacher (1768 - 1845), "Der fromme Hirt" [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 August Harder (1775 - 1813), "Der fromme Hirt" [ vocal duet a cappella ], confirmed with Liederkranz, erstes Heft, zweite verbesserte und vermehrte Auflage, ed. by Ludwig Erk and Wilhelm Greef, Essen: G. D. Bädeker, 1841, song no. 96, page 69 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The devout shepherd", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2007-01-15
Line count: 40
Word count: 209
On the banks of a brook stood a little tree, slender and bushy. Here upon the fringe covered in soft moss, a shepherd chose his resting place. In the mild and cool rustling of the leaves, sweet peace wafted about him, And the reflection of the little tree nodded amiably at him from the playing waves. But ah! From the high mountains a turbid flood of water sprang, And also in the valley the rage of the brook roared and swelled mightily. The poor little tree trembled greatly and tottered back and forth; Wildly about it, the brook burrowed out a grave [for the little tree]. And when the flood had passed, the shepherd came along, And ah! He found his poor little tree and gazed at it sadly, And gently pulled out the tree and raised it up quickly. There stood the tree then, slender and bushy and shady as before. And hark! From the little tree a sweet sound came forth wondrously; The brook gleamed. Behold! A beautiful youth appeared. He rose up from the bright waves and spoke with gentle voice: "You were kind and good; your wish shall be your reward!" "No," cried the devout shepherd; "I deserve neither thanks nor reward! Behold, our neighbour is so ill; for him, ah, I beseech you!" "He shall recover!" thereupon spoke the fair lips of the angel. The shepherd raced home happily; the neighbour was healed.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 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 Adolf Krummacher (1768 - 1845), "Der fromme Hirt"
This text was added to the website: 2007-01-15
Line count: 40
Word count: 238