Harbinger of spring, butterfly!

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs

Schmetterling

(Sung text for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Sanft wie Zephirs lindes Wehen,
Schmeichelnd wie der Liebe Flehen,
Flatterst du mit leichtem Sinn
Durch die Blumenwelt dahin.

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Mit des Schmeichelns süßem Kosen
Gaukelst du um junge Rosen,
Wendest dann mit Männersinn,
Dich zu andern Blumen hin.

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Ist dein ganzes Leben Scherz?
Fesselt nichts dein kleines Herz? --
O so nenne nicht die Triebe
Deiner Flatterseele: "Liebe."

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Bunter Wechsel scheint dein Ziel,
Aber grausam ist das Spiel.
Ach, ein Schmetterling, wie du,
Nahm mir tändelnd meine Ruh.

Composition:

Josephine Lang

Text Authorship:

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( E.S. ) , "Fanny an einen Schmetterling"

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) (Harald Krebs) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 91

Butterfly

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Harbinger of spring! Butterfly!
Soft as the gentle breath of Zephyr,
Flattering as the pleading of love,
You flutter with a light heart
Through the world of flowers.

Harbinger of spring! Butterfly!
With the sweet caress of flattery
You flit about the young roses,
Then you turn, in the manner of a man,
Toward other flowers!

Harbinger of spring! Butterfly!
If your whole life is a jest?
If nothing can bind your little heart? --
Oh, then do not call the urges
Of your fluttering soul: "love."

Harbinger of spring! Butterfly!
Colorful change seems to be your aim in life,
But this game is cruel.
Alas, a butterfly like you
Carelessly deprived me of all my peace!

Translation of titles:
"Fanny an einen Schmetterling" = "Fanny addressing a butterfly"
"Schmetterling" = "Butterfly"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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 Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Fanny an einen Schmetterling"
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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 122