Es steht ein hoher, schroffer Fels
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG FRE
Es steht ein hoher, schroffer Fels,
Darum die Adler fliegen,
Doch wagt sich keiner drauf herab,
Den Drachen [sehen]1 sie liegen.
In alten Mauern liegt er dort
Mit seinem goldnen Kamme,
Er rasselt mit der Schuppenhaut,
Er hauchet Dampf und Flamme.
Der Jüngling, ohne Schwert und Schild,
Ist keck hinaufgedrungen,
Die Arme wirft er um die Schlang
Und hält sie fest umrungen.
Er küßt sie dreimal in den Schlund,
Da muß der Zauber weichen,
Er hält im Arm ein holdes Weib,
Das schönst' in allen Reichen.
Die herrliche, gekrönte Braut
Hat er am Herzen liegen,
Und aus den alten Trümmern ist
Ein Königsschloß gestiegen.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schumann: "seh'n"
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Lothar Kempter (1844 - 1918), "Der Königssohn", op. 45, published 190-? [men's chorus a cappella], Mainz, Ebling [ sung text not verified ]
- by Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849), "Der Königssohn II", op. 64, Heft 2 no. 11, KWV 9108 no. 11, published [1825/26] [voice and piano], from Lieder und Romanzen mit Klavierbegleitung, no. 11, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [ sung text not verified ]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Es steht ein hoher, schroffer Fels", op. 116 no. 5 (1851), published 1853 [soli, chorus and orchestra], from Der Königssohn, no. 5, Leipzig, Whistling [ sung text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The king's son", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 104
The king's son
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
There stands a tall, craggy cliff
About which the eagles fly,
Yet no eagle dares to descend upon it;
They see the dragon lying there.
In the old stone walls he lies
With his golden comb;
He rattles his scaly skin,
He breathes out steam and flames.
The youth, without a sword or shield,
Has boldly made his way up there.
He throws his arms about the snake
And holds it tightly encircled.
Three times he kisses its cavernous maw.
The enchantment broken,
In his arms he holds a lovely woman,
The most beautiful in all realms.
The glorious, crowned bride
Is lying upon his heart,
And from the ancient ruins
Has risen a royal palace.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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:
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 116