Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Schneeglöcklein, o Schneeglöcklein! In den Auen läutest du, Läutest in dem stillen Hain, Läute immer, läute zu! Denn du kündest frohe Zeit, Frühling naht, der Bräutigam, Kommt mit Sieg vom Winterstreit, Dem er seine Eiswehr nahm. Darum schwingt der goldne Stift, Daß dein Silberhelm erschallt, Und dein liebliches Gedüft Leis', wie Schmeichelruf entwallt: Daß die Blumen in der Erd Steigen aus dem düstern Nest Und des Bräutigams sich werth Schmücken zu dem [Hochzeitsfest]1. - Schneeglöcklein, o Schneeglöcklein! In den Auen läutest du, Läutest in dem stillen Hain, Läut' die Blumen aus der Ruh! Du Viola, zartes Kind, Hörst zuerst den Wonnelaut, Und sie stehet auf geschwind, Schmücket sorglich sich als Braut. Hüllet sich ins grüne Kleid, Nimmt den Mantel sammetblau, Nimmt das güldene Geschmeid, Und den [Diamantenthau]2. Eilt dann fort mit [ems'gem]3 Schritt, Nur den Freund im treuen Sinn, Ganz von [Liebesglück]4 durchglüht, Sieht nicht her und sieht nicht hin. Doch ein ängstliches Gefühl Ihre kleine Brust durchwallt, Denn es ist noch rings so still Und die Lüfte wehn [noch]5 kalt. Und sie hemmt den schnellen Lauf, Schon bestrahlt von Sonnenschein, Doch mit Schrecken blickt sie auf - Denn sie stehet ganz allein. Schwestern nicht - nicht Bräutigam - Zugedrungen! und verschmäht! - Da durchschauert sie die Schaam, Fliehet wie vom Sturm geweht, Fliehet an den fernsten Ort, Wo sie Gras und Schatten deckt, Späht und lauschet immerfort: Ob was rauschet und sich regt. Und gekränket und getäuscht Sitzet sie und schluchzt und weint; Von der tiefsten Angst zerfleischt, Ob kein Nahender [erscheint]6. - Schneeglöcklein, o Schneeglöcklein! In den Auen läutest du, Läutest in dem stillen Hain, Läut die Schwestern ihr herzu! - Rose nahet, Lilie schwankt, Tulp und Hyacinthe schwellt, Windling kommt daher gerankt, Und Narciß hat sich gesellt. [Als]7 der Frühling nun erscheint Und das frohe Fest beginnt, Sieht er alle die vereint, Und vermißt sein liebstes Kind. Alle schickt er suchend fort Um die Eine, die ihm werth. Und sie kommen an den Ort, Wo sie einsam sich verzehrt. - Doch es sitzt das liebe Herz Stumm und bleich, das Haupt gebückt - Ach! der Lieb und Sehnsucht Schmerz Hat die Zärtliche erdrückt. Schneeglöcklein, o Schneeglöcklein! In den Auen läutest du, Läutest in dem stillen Hain, Läut, Viola, sanfte Ruh!
Confirmed with Gedichte von Franz von Schober. Stuttgart und Tübingen. J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag. 1842, pages 12-15; and with Gedichte von Franz von Schober. Zweite, vermehrte Auflage. Leipzig Verlagsbuchhandlung von J. J. Weber. 1865, pages 12-15.
1 Schubert: "Hochzeitfest"2 Schubert: "Brilliantenthau"
3 Schubert: "mächt'gem"
4 Schubert: "Liebesgluth"
5 Schubert: "so"
6 Schubert: "sich zeigt"
7 Schubert (Alte Gesamtausgabe): "Da"
Authorship:
- by Franz Adolf Friedrich von Schober (1796 - 1882), "Viola", subtitle: "Blumenballade", appears in Gedichte, in Frühlingslieder, no. 5 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Viola", op. posth. 123, D 786 (1823), published 1830 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Viola", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Viooltje", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Viola", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Violette", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , "Βιόλα", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Paolo Pupillo) (Claretta Manara) , "Viola", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 76
Word count: 373
Snowdrop, oh snowdrop, In the meadows you ring [your little white bell]1, You ring in the quiet grove, Ring always, ring out, ring out always! For you herald happy times, Springtime nears, the bridegroom Returns victorious from the battle with winter, Whose icy weapons he confiscated. Therefore the golden wand is waved, So that your silvery casque rings out, And your lovely scent Quietly streams forth like a flattering cry: That the flowers in the earth Rise from their gloomy nest, And to be worthy of the bridegroom Adorn themselves for the wedding celebration. Snowdrop, oh snowdrop In the meadows you ring [your little white bell], You ring in the quiet grove, Ring the flowers out of their slumber! You field pansy, delicate child, Hear the lovely sound first, And she gets up quickly, And carefully adorns herself as a bride. Wraps herself in a green dress, Takes a velvet-blue cloak, Takes her golden finery And the [diamond dew]2 Hurries off then with [bustling]3 step, Only her friend in her faithful mind; Completely ablaze with the [glow]4 of love, She looks neither here nor there. But an anxious feeling Surges through her little breast, For it is still so quiet all about, And the breezes [still blow]5 coldly. And she retards her rapid motion, Already shone upon by the sun, But with a shock she looks up, For she is standing all alone. No sisters, no bridegroom! [She has] put herself forward! and been spurned! Shame shudders through her, She flees as if driven before a storm. She flees to the most far-off place, Where she is covered by grass and shadows, Always looking and listening If anything is rustling or moving. And mortified and deceived She sits and sobs and weeps, Lacerated by the deepest trepidation That some approaching person may appear. Snowdrop, oh snowdrop In the meadows you ring [your little white bell], You ring in the quiet grove, Ring that her sisters might come to her! The rose nears, the lily sways, Tulip and hyacinth swell, The field bindweed comes creeping along, And the narcissus joins them. When Spring now arrives, And the happy festival begins, He sees them all, who are united, And he misses his dearest child. He sends everyone off to search For the one who is dear to him, And they come upon the place Where she pines in solitude. But the dear [heart]6 sits Mute and pale, her head bowed, Ah! the pain of love and longing Has crushed the tender one. Snowdrop, oh snowdrop In the meadows you ring [your little white bell], You ring in the quiet grove, Toll sweet peace to the field pansy!
1 A literal translation of the German name of this flower is "snowbell", hence all the references to "ringing" in this poem.
2 Schubert: "gemlike dew"
3 Schubert: "mighty"
4 Schubert: "joy"
5 Schubert: "blow so"
6 Schubert: "child"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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 Franz Adolf Friedrich von Schober (1796 - 1882), "Viola", subtitle: "Blumenballade", appears in Gedichte, in Frühlingslieder, no. 5
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-29
Line count: 76
Word count: 445