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König Kophetua hob seine goldene Krone Von den goldenen Locken und schwieg. Auf sein Schwert gestützt ging er und stieg Über die steilen Stufen, und ohne Sich umzusehn, ließ er die staunende Schar. Oben saß in mondlichtschimmernder Blässe Eine Bettlerin, in den Mantel der dichten Haare gehüllt. Ein großes Verzichten Lag in ihrer Augen blinkender Nässe. Und so träumte sie, jeglichen Schmuckes bar. König Kophetua legte die goldene Krone Über die eisengerüsteten Knie und harrte Auf einer der Stufen, bis ihn die traurige, zarte Magd erblicke, flehentlich, ohne Sich umzusehn, wo sein Gefolge war …
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Deutsche Lyrik seit Liliencron, herausgegeben von Hans Bethge, Leipzig: Hesse & Becker Verlag, 1921, pages 215-216.
Text Authorship:
- by Richard von Schaukal (1874 - 1942), "Kophetua" [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 Henk Bijvanck (1909 - 1969), "König Kophetùa", copyright © 1958 [ bass and piano ], from Drei Balladen, no. 1, Amsterdam: Donemus [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "King Kophetua", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-08-19
Line count: 15
Word count: 95
King Kophetua lifted his golden crown From off his golden locks and fell silent. Resting his hand on his sword, he stepped out and ascended The steep steps, and without Looking back, he departed from the astonished crowd. Upstairs, bleached by pale moonlight sat A young female beggar, in a coat of thick Fur, enfolded. A heavy sense of resignation Welled up in her brimming eyes. And so she dreamed, bare of any ornament. King Kophetua rested the golden crown On his rusting iron-clad knees and paused on one of the steps, so he could catch a glimpse of the sad, tender Maiden, fleetingly, without Looking back towards his [waiting] his retinue …
Translator's note: The king is wearing a suit of armor.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Laura Stanfield Prichard, (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 Richard von Schaukal (1874 - 1942), "Kophetua"
This text was added to the website: 2023-08-22
Line count: 15
Word count: 113