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Die Zeitung flog von Land zu Land, Vor Murten liegt Burgund! Und jeder eilt, fürs Vaterland Zu streiten mit Burgund. ... Im weiten Kreise blitzt das Schwert, Auslangt der lange Spieß; Blut dürstete das breite Schwert, Blut trank der lange Spieß. Der Wälsche kämpfte kurze Zeit, Der Knecht und Ritter lief; Das weite Feld war überstreut Mit Speeren Kniees tief. Der floh zum Strauch -- der floh zum Hain Vorm hellen Sonnenlicht, Viel sprangen in die See hinein, Und dürsteten doch nicht. ... Auf Schiffen fuhr man in den See, Schlug sie mit Rudern todt. Das Waidwort war nur Ach und Weh, Die grüne See ward roth. Viel klommen auf die Bäume hoch, Die schoß man wie die Krähn; Die Fittich sehlten ihnen noch, Sie mocht der Wind nicht wehn. Zwo Meilen lang bedeckte sich Das Land mit Tod und Blut, Das Land, der Strauch, die Rose glich Dem schwarzen Menschenblut. ... Ein Lager einem Marktplaß gleich Kam in der Schweizer Hand. Karl machte schnell den Bettler reich, Im armen Schweizerland. ... Der hatte selbst die Hand am Schwert, Der diesen Reim gemacht; Bis Abends mäht er mit dem Schwert Des Nachts sang er die Schlacht.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6-8,10-12,14,17 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "Schlacht bei Murten", op. 45 (Liedersaal für Frauenchor. 90 drei- und vierstimmige Lieder für Schule, Haus und Verein) no. 13, published 1896, stanzas 1,6-8,10-12,14,17 [ ssa chorus ], Zürich & Leipzig: Hug
Text Authorship:
- by (Georg Philip Ludwig) Leonhard Wächter (1762 - 1837), as Veit Weber, "Schlacht bei Murten"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The battle at Murten", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-09-08
Line count: 76
Word count: 402
The news flew from country to country, The army of Bourgogne is stationed outside of Murten! And for their homeland, everyone hastens To do battle against the Burgundians. ... The sword sparkles in a wide circle, The long spear stretches out; The broad sword thirsted for blood, The long spear drank blood. The French fought only a short time, Soldier and knight ran; The broad field was bestrewn Knee-deep with spears. One fled to the bush -- another to the grove, Hiding from the bright sunlight, Many leapt into the sea, And yet were not thirsty. ... They set forth upon the lake in boats, Battered them to death with oars. The motto was solely "alas" and "woe", The green lake turned red. Many clambered high up into the trees, Those they shot like crows; They lacked pinions, The wind could not blow them about. Across two miles, the countryside Was covered with death and blood, The soil, the bush, the rose looked like The black blood of men. ... An encampment the size of a marketplace Came into Swiss hands. Charles quickly made the beggar rich In poor Switzerland. ... He who made this rhyme had himself The sword in his hand; Until evening he mowed with the sword, At night he sang of the battle.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6-8,10-12,14,17 of the original text.
Note: This text waffles between "die See" (an ocean) and "der See" (a lake), but since Murten is located on the shores of a lake, that word has been used throughout the translation.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 (Georg Philip Ludwig) Leonhard Wächter (1762 - 1837), as Veit Weber, "Schlacht bei Murten"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2026-10-21
Line count: 76
Word count: 468