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Die Quelle murmelt durch die stille Nacht,
Der Mond blickt friedlich auf der Palmen Dächer,
Im milden Lichte schwankt der grüne Fächer;
Es schlummern Alle; nur Maisuna wacht.
Im Zelte hat des Mondes mildem Licht
Gelüftet sie des Vorhangs bunte Seide;
Sanft streift er nun am leuchtenden Geschmeide
Und ruht auf ihrem schönen Angesicht.
Für Melek wacht sie, und mit ems'ger Hand,
Nur flüchtig lauschend, ob auf fernem Wege
Nicht eines Wandrers leiser Tritt sich rege,
Webt für den Theuren sie ein Festgewand.
Die roth und blauen Fäden schlingen dicht
Zu heitrer Mischung wechselnd sich in Streifen,
Und an der Ränder zartgeschlungnen Reifen
Fehlt auch des Goldes edle Zierde nicht.
Gar manch Gebet wob sie den Fäden ein,
Manch stummen Seufzer und manch' innig Sehnen;
Ob es genetzt auch ward von ihren Thränen, --
Das weiß des Mondes stiller Blick allein.
Confirmed with Bilder des Orients von Heinrich Stieglitz, Erster Band, Leipzig, bei Carl Cnobloch, 1831, pages 108-109.
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Stieglitz (1801 - 1849), "Maisuna im Zelte", appears in Bilder des Orients, first published 1831 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861), "Maisuna im Zelte", op. 90, Heft 2 no. 1, published 1835 [ voice and piano ], from Bilder des Orients von H. Stieglitz [I], no. 8, Berlin, Fröhlich und Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Julius Stern (1820 - 1883), "Maisuna im Zelte", op. 3 no. 4, published 1840 [ low voice and piano ], from Bilder des Orients. Gedichte von H. Stigelitz für tiefe Stimme, no. 4, Leipzig, Klemm [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Maisuna in the tent", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-07-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 141
The water-spring murmurs through the quiet night.
The moon gazes peacefully upon the rooves of palms.
The green fan waves in the gentle light.
Everyone is sleeping; only Maisuna is still awake.
In the tent she has lifted the colourful silk
Of the curtain to let in the moon's mild light;
Gently [the light] now brushes across her glowing jewellery
And rests upon her beautiful face.
She is keeping watch for Melek, and with busy hands,
She weaves a festive garment for her beloved,
Only fleetingly listening [to discern] if upon distant paths
There is some motion of a wanderer's step,
The red and blue threads entwine themselves closely
To a cheerful combination, alternating in stripes,
And upon the gently woven loops of the edges
The noble adornment of gold is also evident.
Well many a prayer she wove in with the threads,
Many a mute sigh and many an ardent longing;
And if, as well, it was bedewed with her tears, --
That is known only to the moon's quiet gaze.
Text 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Stieglitz (1801 - 1849), "Maisuna im Zelte", appears in Bilder des Orients, first published 1831
This text was added to the website: 2015-07-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 172