Ein Schäfer saß im Grünen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE
Ein Schäfer saß im Grünen,
Sein Liebchen süß im Arm;
Durch Buchenwipfel schienen
Der Sonne Strahlen warm.
Er kos'te froh und heiter
Von Liebeständeley.
Da ritt bewehrt ein Reiter
Den Glücklichen vorbey.
»Sitz' ab, und suche Kühle!«
Rief ihm der Schäfer zu.
»Des Mittags nahe Schwüle
Gebiethet stille Ruh'.
Noch lacht im Morgenglanze
So Strauch als Blume hier,
Und Liebchen pflückt zum Kranze
Die frischen Blüthen dir.«
Da sprach der finstre Reiter:
»Nie hielt mich Wald und Flur.
Mich treibt mein Schicksal weiter,
Und ach, mein ernster Schwur!
Ich gab mein frisches Leben
Dahin um schnöden Sold;
Glück kann ich nicht erstreben,
Nur höchstens Ruhm und Gold.
Drum schnell, mein Roß, und trabe
Vorbey, wo Blumen blüh'n.
Einst lohnt wohl Ruh' im Grabe
Des Kämpfenden Bemüh'n.«
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Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1816. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 77-78.
Text Authorship:
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Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor], Peter Rastl
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 132
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
A shepherd sat in the greenery,
His arm sweetly about his beloved;
Through the treetops shone
The sunbeams warmly.
He caressed her joyfully and merrily
In the dalliance of love;
Then an armoured horseman rode
Past the happy ones.
"Dismount and seek coolness!"
The shepherd called to him.
"The approaching sultriness of noontime
Commands one to take quiet rest.
Still laughing in the glow of morning
Are bush and flower here,
And my darling shall pick for you
The freshest blossoms to weave into a wreath."
Thereupon the sombre rider spoke:
"Never could forest and meadow detain me.
I am driven onward by my fate,
And, ah, by my solemn oath!
I traded my young life
Away for idle filthy lucre;
I cannot strive for happiness,
Only at the most for fame and gold.
Therefore make haste, my steed, and tramp
Past there where flowers bloom;
Someday rest in the grave shall
Reward the efforts of the warrior."
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Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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:
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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 160
