by
Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
Spring
Language: English after the Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्)
Spring the warrior hither comes,
bowstring formed by rows of bees.
And his darts tipp'd with buds
wound our hearts with sweet lovelonging.
Now the trees put forth their flowers,
on the lakes the lilies fair
show their heads midst the waves
melting hearts with sweet lovelonging.
What fair maid can vie with spring?
What sweet voice the cuckoo's song?
Or smiling teeth the jasmine's hue?
Or rosy lips the op'ning flowers?
Bending down with blushing buds,
flaming mango branches wave
to and fro with the breeze
filling hearts with sweet lovelonging.
And within the lotus flower
dwells her love, the murm'ring bee
who with kiss and embrace
satisfies her sweet lovelonging.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्) by Kalidasa (flourished 5th century) [text unavailable]
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, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , title 1: "Lente", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Corien Sleeswijk
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-28
Line count: 20
Word count: 112
Lente
Language: Dutch (Nederlands) after the English
De krijger voorjaar komt er aan,
boogpees gevormd door een streng bijen.
En zijn pijlen, getopt met bloemknoppen,
verwonden onze harten met zoet liefdesverlangen.
Kijk, de bloesems springen open,
op de meren laten de blanke lelies
hun kopjes zien tussen de golven,
die harten doen smelten van zoet liefdesverlangen.
Welk mooi meisje kan zich meten met de lente?
Welk zoet stemgeluid met koekoeksgezang?
Of een blinkende lach met het wit van jasmijn?
Of een rozenmondje met ontluikende bloemen?
Nijgend met blozende knoppen,
wuiven vlammende mango takken
heen en weer met de bries
harten vullend met zoet liefdesverlangen.
En in de lotusbloem
huist haar geliefde, de murmelende bij
die met kus en omhelzing
haar zoete liefdesverlangen vervult.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
Based on:
- a text in Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्) by Kalidasa (flourished 5th century) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-28
Line count: 20
Word count: 116
