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Ein Knappe ritt die Heid' entlang, Seinem Liebchen fein entgegen; Ihm ward so einsam und so bang, Thät' rings sich nichts mehr regen; Die Nacht brach still und schwarz herein, Und Nebel hüllten den Pfad ihm ein. Weit war der Weg zum Liebchen fein, Fern ihres Vaters Hallen; Da sah der Knapp' im Dämmerschein Einen Pilger einsam wallen. Gesellig sprach er den Fremden an: "Woher, wohin, Du Wandersmann? Was gehst allein auf der Heid' umher? Magst leicht im Dunkeln irren. Sieh, Nachtgewölke ziehn so schwer, Und Fledermäuse schwirren. Gern halt' ich an des Rosses Gang, So ziehn wir selbander die Heid' entlang." Die Beyden reis'ten zusammen fort, Doch blieb der Pilger stille. Da fragte der Knapp': "nach welchem Ort, Gefährte, steht dein Wille?"-- "Wohin Du gehst, da geh' ich nicht, Wir scheiden, wenn der Tag anbricht."-- "So sage mir denn, wie nennst Du Dich?"-- "Ich bin der Graf von der Heide."-- "Und geht Ihr so still und einsamlich?"-- "Das macht, ich geh' im Leide."-- "Wo ist Euer Knapp' und Euer Roß?"-- "Sie harren mein im dunkeln Schloß." "Ach, edler Graf, so unbewehrt Durchwallt Ihr die dunkle Heide?"-- "Was soll mir Helm, was soll mir Schwert? Thut Keiner mir was zu Leide. Und daß Du, Knapp', nur alles weißt: Ich bin eines todten Grafen Geist. Du reitest schnell durch die dunkle Nacht, Bey Liebchen süß zu erwarmen; Mich hat die Lieb' ins Grab gebracht, Ich ruh' in Todes Armen. Nun fahre wohl; der Tag bricht an, Reit' hin, du frischer, lebendiger Mann!"
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Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 43-45
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Der Graf von der Heide" [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 Daniel Friedrich Rudolph Kuhlau (1786 - 1832), "Ein Knappe ritt die Haid entlang", op. 106 no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The Earl of the Moorlands", 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: 2015-10-30
Line count: 42
Word count: 251
A squire rode along the moor, Going to meet his beloved; He felt so solitary and so anxious, Nothing in the land around him was stirring; Night fell quietly and darkly, And mists concealed his pathway. Long was the way to his fair beloved, Her father’s halls were far away; Then in the twilight the squire saw A pilgrim wandering alone. Companionably he spoke to the stranger: "Whither, whence, you wanderer? Why are you walking alone upon the moor? In the dark you might easily go astray. Look, night clouds approach so portentously, And the bats are swarming about. I would happily halt my horse, Thus we could walk together along the moor." The two travelled on together, But the pilgrim remained silent. Thereupon the squire asked: "To which place, Comrade, do you wish to go?"-- "Where you are going, I go not, We shall part as dawn breaks."-- "So tell me then, what are you called?"-- "I am the Earl of the Moorlands."-- "And you walk so silently and solitarily?"-- "That is because I walk in grief."-- "Where is your knave and your steed?"-- "They wait for me in the dark castle." "Ah, noble earl, thus unarmed You wander upon the dark moor?"-- "Of what use to me are casque and sword? No one does me any harm. And so that you, squire, know all: I am the ghost of a dead earl. You ride quickly through the dark night To sweetly warm yourself by your beloved; I was brought to the grave by love, I rest in the arms of death. Now farewell; the day is dawning, Ride on, you lusty, living man!"
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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Der Graf von der Heide"
This text was added to the website: 2015-10-30
Line count: 42
Word count: 275