Mein dunkles Haar färbt altersgrau die...
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Mein dunkles Haar färbt altersgrau die Zeit.
O Zeit, wie schnell! o Schnelle sonder Gleichen!
Die Jugend müht sich Alter zu erreichen,
Den Weg zurück nimmt keine Sterblichkeit;
Sieh Jugend, Anmuth, Schönheit bald verblüh'n:
Gehorsam, Lieb' und Treue bleiben grün.
Den Bienen sey mein Helm als Wohnsitz kund,
Statt Minnelieder müssen Psalmen tönen,
Die Kniee spät zu beugen sich gewöhnen
Und bethen lerne noch des Greises Mund;
Komm ich, o Hütte, gleich vom Hof' zu dir,
So bring' ich doch ein reines Herz mit mir.
Nie dank' ich meiner Königinn genug,
Ich will um mich die Schäfer singen lehren:
"Gesegnet sind, die meine Fürstinn ehren!
Und ihre Feinde trifft des Himmels Fluch."
Herrinn! verleih' dies Loos dem alten Mann,
Daß Dir als Hirt der Ritter dienen kann.
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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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The Earl of Essex to Queen Elizabeth", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2017-02-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 127
The Earl of Essex to Queen Elizabeth
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Time is colouring my dark hair with the grey of age.
Oh time, how quickly! oh incomparable haste!
Youth labours to reach age,
But no mortal takes the route back [to youth];
Lo, youth, grace, beauty soon fade:
Obedience, love, and faithfulness are ever green.
Announce to the bees that they may inhabit my helmet,
Instead of love-songs, psalms must sound,
Late in life my knees must become used to kneeling
And the old man’s lips must still learn to pray;
And though I come to you, oh cottage, directly from the court,
I do bring along a pure heart.
I can never thank my queen enough,
I shall teach the shepherds around me to sing:
"Blessed be those who honour my regent,
And may the curse of Heaven fall upon her foes."
Mistress! grant this fate to the old man:
That he who was a knight may serve you as a shepherd.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2017-02-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 153
