Wozu noch, Mädchen, soll es frommen, Daß du vor mir Verstellung übst? Heiß froh das neue Glück willkommen Und sag es offen, daß du liebst! An deines Busens höherm Schwellen, Dem Wangenrot, das kommt und geht, Ward dein Geheimnis von den Quellen, Den Blumengeistern längst erspäht. Die Wogen murmelns in den Grotten, Es flüsterts leis der Abendwind, Wo du vorbeigehst, hörst dus spotten: Wir wissen es seit lange, Kind!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Adolf Friedrich von Schack, Gesammelte Werke, Vierter Band, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1883, page 76.
Text Authorship:
- by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), no title, appears in Lotosblätter, in 4. Verwehte Blätter, no. 33 [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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Wozu noch, Mädchen, soll es frommen", op. 19 (Sechs Lieder aus "Lotosblätter" von Aldolf Friedrich Graf von Schack) no. 1, published 1888 [ high voice and piano ], München, Aibl [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "De què t’hauria de servir encara, noia", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Waartoe nog, meisje, moet het dienen", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "What's the use, maiden", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "Say wherefore vainly . . .", first published 1897
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "À quoi te servent encore, jeune fille", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 69
Say wherefore vainly wouldst dissemble? Thine actions all thy words disprove! Rejoice, and bid thy fortune welcome, Confess, sweet maiden, thou art in love! Behold thy heart is beating faster, Thy cheeks now pale erst blushed so fair, Thy fond, sweet secret, sad disaster! They've told to brook and flow'ret fair, The brooklet told it to the river, 'Tis whisper'd low at day's retreat, Which way thou turnest soft winds murmur: We know thy heart's fond secret, sweet!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "Say wherefore vainly . . .", first published 1897 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), no title, appears in Lotosblätter, in 4. Verwehte Blätter, no. 33
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-12-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 78