by Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise zu Wied, Prinzessin (1843 - 1916), as Carmen Sylva
Translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939)
Nicht schöpfen (Zigeunerlied)
Language: German (Deutsch)
Es kommt die Nacht, laß ruhen deine Spindel. Die auf dem Weg vorübergingen, Die redeten von ihren Hütten; Und ihre Hütten schienen ihnen allzu fern. Was sahst du, Kind, im Brunnengrund? Ich sah mein Angesicht, mein Hemd, mein Halskettlein. Hast du nur das gesehen? Ich sah im Brunnengrunde einen Mann, der weinte. Vor ihm hat sich mein Angesicht gefürchtet. Und jenes Mannes Thränen, Die waren all' das Wasser in dem Brunnen. Da hab' ich mich gefürchtet, und nicht wollt' ich Thränen schöpfen. Da kam ein Weib daher, ich habe mich entfernt, Doch sah ich, wie die Thränen sie geschöpft, Und wie sie die getrunken und dabei Den Himmel ansah. Dann wischte sie den Mund mit ihrer Schürze. Und weil sie fortging, bin ich auch gegange. Es kommt die Nacht, laß ruhen deine Spindel. Die auf dem Weg vorübergingen, Die redeten von ihren Hütten; Und ihre Hütten schienen ihnen allzu fern.
Confirmed with Lieder aus dem Dimbovitzathal: aus dem folksmunde gesammelt von Helene Vacaresco (Elena Văcărescu), ins Deutsche übertragen von Carmen Sylva, Bonn, Verlag von Emil Strauß, 1889, pages 208-209.
Text Authorship:
- by Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise zu Wied, Prinzessin (1843 - 1916), as Carmen Sylva, "Nicht schöpfen (Zigeunerlied)", appears in Lieder aus dem Dimbovitzathal [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939) , "The well of tears", appears in The bard of the Dimbovitza : Rovmanian folk-songs collected from the peasants, in Luteplayer's Songs ; composed by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-12-05
Line count: 22
Word count: 150
The well of tears
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The night is coming, let thy spindle be. Those who went by this way Spoke of their huts together, and the huts Seemed far, so far away. What saw'st thou at the bottom of the well ? -- I saw my face, my bodice, and my chain. -- Child, didst thou see naught else ? -- I saw there at the bottom of the well A man who wept. My face, down there, was sore afraid of him ; And all the water in the well was naught But this man's tears. I was afraid, and would not draw those tears. Then came a woman, and I went aside, But yet I saw, how she drew up those tears. And how she drank them, looking all the while Up at the sky. Then with her apron she did wipe her lips, And went from thence -- and I, too, went my way. The night is coming, let thy spindle be. Those who went by this way Spoke of their huts together, and the huts Seemed far, too far away.
View text with all available footnotes
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Text Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), "The well of tears", appears in The bard of the Dimbovitza : Rovmanian folk-songs collected from the peasants, in Luteplayer's Songs [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise zu Wied, Prinzessin (1843 - 1916), as Carmen Sylva, "Nicht schöpfen (Zigeunerlied)", appears in Lieder aus dem Dimbovitzathal
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir (1883 - 1953), "The well of tears", 1914, rev. 1946 [mezzo-soprano and piano], from The Bard of the Dimbovitza, no. 1. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-06
Line count: 23
Word count: 178