by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858)

Song ‑ Phillis The Fair
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
While larks, with little wing,
Fann'd the pure air,
Tasting the breathing Spring,
Forth I did fare:
Gay the sun's golden eye
Peep'd o'er the mountains high;
Such thy morn! did I cry,
Phillis the fair.

In each bird's careless song,
Glad I did share;
While yon wild-flowers among,
Chance led me there!
Sweet to the op'ning day,
Rosebuds bent the dewy spray;
Such thy bloom! did I say,
Phillis the fair.

Down in a shady walk,
Doves cooing were;
I mark'd the cruel hawk
Caught in a snare:
So kind may fortune be,
Such make his destiny,
He who would injure thee,
Phillis the fair.

Tune - "Robin Adair."

Text Authorship:

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


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-05-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 106

Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Scottish (Scots) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Früh mit der Lerche Sang
Wandert' ich weit,
Schlürfte was Wies' entlang
Labung verleiht.
Heiter und goldenrein --
Rief ich -- wie Lenzes Schein,
Möge dein Morgen sein,
Liebliche Maid!
 
  Mich haben Vöglein dort
Singend erfreut,
Blumen am stillen Ort
Duft mir gestreut.
Wie aus bethautem Grün
Knospen der Rose glühn,
Soll deine Jugend blühn,
Liebliche Maid!
 
  Girrende Taube fliegt
Frei durch die Heid';
Falk in der Schlinge liegt,
Schafft nicht mehr Leid.
Treffe sein Mißgeschick
Ihn, der mit Wort und Blick
Trübte dein stilles Glück,
Liebliche Maid!

Composition:

    Set to music by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Liebliche Maid", op. 4 (Zwölf Gesänge) no. 3, published 1845 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner

Text Authorship:

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 89