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Ein fremder Kavalier Stieg ab vom schwarzen Roß, Trat in den Königssaal Mit andern Herren groß. Derselbe Kavalier Trug einen Edelstein, Wie man noch keinen sah, Von wundersamem Schein. Ein Stein von hohem Wert In Königs Krone saß, Doch schien vor diesem er Ein mattgeschliffen Glas. Der König bot ihm Gold, Er bot ihm Leut' und Land, Doch lassen wollt' er nicht Den edlen Diamant. Der König, des erbost, Spricht zu dem Hauptmann sein: "Bringt mir des Mannes Hand Samt seinem Edelstein!" Der Hauptmann reckt das Schwert, Haut nach des Mannes Hand, Doch statt des Kavaliers Der Teufel vor ihm stand. Glut strömt aus seinem Ring, Zur Hölle wächst der Stein, Schleußt Burg und König bald Samt allen Dienern ein.
Text Authorship:
- by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Der Ring", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte [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 Alexander Winterberger (1834 - 1914), "Der Ring", op. 117 no. 1 [ TTBB chorus ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The ring", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La bague", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-01
Line count: 28
Word count: 120
A foreign squire Dismounted from his black steed, He stepped into the King’s Hall With other great lords. This selfsame squire Wore a gemstone The like of which had never been seen, Of a wonderful glow. A gemstone of great worth Was set in the King’s crown, But before this one [belonging to the squire] It seemed only dully cut glass. The King offered the squire gold, He offered him people and land, But the squire did not want to give up His precious diamond. The King, angry over that, Spoke to his captain: “Bring me that man’s hand Complete with the jewel!” The captain drew his sword And struck at the man’s hand, But instead of the squire The devil was standing before him. Fire streamed from his ring, The stone grew into hell, It soon swallowed up the castle, The King and all his servants.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Der Ring", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte
This text was added to the website: 2014-08-12
Line count: 28
Word count: 147