Strolling, a maiden walked

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by Rhingulf Eduard Wegener (b. 1821)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Das Mädchen und der Schmetterling

(Sung text for setting by A. Wallnöfer)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Lustwandelnd schritt ein Mädchen
In kühlem Waldesgrund,
Und als sie dort sich bückte,
Zum Strauß die Blumen pflückte,
Da kam ein bunter Falter 
Und küßte ihr den Mund.

"Verzeih' mir," sprach der Falter, 
"Verzeih' mir mein Vergeh'n, 
Ich wollte Honig nippen
Und habe deine Lippen,
Dein rothes, rothes Mündchen 
Für Rosen angeseh'n."

Da sprach zu ihm das Mädchen: 
"Für diesmal, kleines Ding,
Will ich dir gern vergeben;
Doch merke dir daneben: 
Nicht blühen diese Rosen 
Für jeden Schmetterling."

Composition:

Adolf Wallnöfer

Liederspiel. Zehn Terzette für Frauenstimmen, Chor oder Solo mit Klavierbegleitung

Text Authorship:

by Rhingulf Eduard Wegener (b. 1821), "Das Mädchen und der Schmetterling"

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "The maiden and the butterfly"
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Mme. Picamal Carcanade) , "La jeune fille et le papillon"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Donderwinkel , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 82

The maiden and the butterfly

(Sung text translation for setting by A. Wallnöfer)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Strolling, a maiden walked
In the cool depths of a forest,
And as she bent down there
And picked flowers for a nosegay,
A colourful butterfly came along
And kissed her lips.

"Forgive me," said the butterfly,
"Forgive me my transgression,
I wanted to sip some honey
And mistook your lips,
Your rosy, rosy little mouth
For roses!"

The maiden replied:
"For this time, little thing,
I gladly forgive you;
But, as an aside, take note of this:
These roses do not bloom
For every butterfly that comes along."

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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Rhingulf Eduard Wegener (b. 1821), "Das Mädchen und der Schmetterling"
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This text was added to the website: 2017-09-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 89