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.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
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.«
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1816. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 77-78.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Schäfer und Reiter" [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Go to the general view
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
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."
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Schäfer und Reiter"
Go to the general view
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 160