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Es reitet ein Knabe von Radgon-Schloß,
Er reitet sein schwarzes Lieblingsroß.
Sein Lieblingsfalke mit rothem Band
Sitzt stolz ihm auf der rechten Hand.
Und um den Hut schlingt zum Kranz sich herum
Der Rosmarin, seine Lieblingsblum'.
* * *
Und als er kam vor der Liebsten Haus,
Da stieß er in's Horn -- da trat sie heraus.
"Wo stell' ich, Geliebte, mein Rößlein zur Rast?"
-- ""Bind' es an den Lindbaum, du lieber Gast.""
"Wo setz' ich zur Ruhe den Falken ab?"
-- ""Setz' ihn in mein Kämmerlein, trauter Knab'.““
"Wo pflanz' ich den Rosmarinzweig [dann]1 ein?"
-- ""Pflanz' ihn an's Herz mir, o Liebster mein.""
* * *
Das Roß an der Linde erquickt sich [am]2 Spreu,
Der Falk regt die Flügel, und träumt, er wär' frei,
Der Rosmarin an des Mädchens Brust
Grünt Lieb' und blüht Küsse, in seliger Lust.
Confirmed with Slavische Melodien von Siegfried Kapper, Leipzig: Wilhelm Einhorn, 1844, pages 126-127.
1 von Goethe: "denn"2 von Goethe: "mit"
Text Authorship:
- by Siegfried Kapper (1821 - 1879), "Ritt zum Liebchen", appears in Slavische Melodien, in Aus Illyrien, no. 4 [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 Walther von Goethe (1818 - 1885), "Ritt zum Liebchen", op. 22, Heft 1 no. 3, published 1851 [ voice and piano ], from Slavische Bilder, no. 3, Bonn: N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The ride to the beloved", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-11-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 140
A lad is riding from Radgon Castle,
He is riding his favourite black steed.
His favourite falcon with the red ribbon
Sits proudly upon his right hand.
And around his hat the rosemary, his favourite flower,
Twines itself into a wreath.
* * *
And when he came to his beloved's house,
He blew into his horn -- then she came out.
"Where, beloved, may I put my horse so it can rest?"
-- ""Tie it to the linden tree, you dear guest.""
"Where, beloved, may I set down my falcon so it can rest?"
-- ""Set it down in my chamber, dear lad.""
"Where shall I plant the rosemary sprig?"
-- ""Plant it upon my heart, oh most dearly beloved of mine.""
* * *
The horse at the linden tree refreshes itself with bran,
The falcon stirs its wings and dreams that it were free,
The rosemary sprig on the maiden's breast,
Burgeons into love and blossoms into kisses, in blissful joy.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Siegfried Kapper (1821 - 1879), "Ritt zum Liebchen", appears in Slavische Melodien, in Aus Illyrien, no. 4
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 160