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Es zog ein Sänger heiter Ins ferne Land hinein, Die Zitther zum Geleiter, Zu Freunden Lieb' und Wein. Der Holden zu gefallen, Die einst sein Arm umschloß, Ließ er der Heimath Hallen, Und sucht' ihr fernes Schloß. Sich reisend zu erlaben, Bewahrt' er im Gewand An Gold und andern Gaben, Was Glück ihm zugewandt. Schon nah' dem süßen Ziele, Führt ihn die rauhe Bahn In banger Mittagsschwüle Den schroffen Berg hinan. Aus schwarzem Abgrund toben Gewässer dumpf herauf, Und Felsen starren oben, Beengend seinen Lauf. Von Liebe fortgezogen, Erklimmt er das Gestein, Doch in des Strudels Wogen Stürzt all sein Gold hinein. Er hat den Berg erstiegen, Und singt mit frohen Muth: "Mag Gold im Abgrund liegen, Die Zitther ist mein Gut!"
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 88-89
Authorship
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Des Sängers Lohn" [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 Nikolas Kraft (1778 - 1853), "Es zog ein Sänger heiter", from Dichtungen, no. 6. [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title unknown, copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-11-25
Line count: 28
Word count: 122
A minstrel travelled merrily Into the distant land, His zither as companion, As friends, love and wine. To please the lovely one Whom once his arm encircled, He left the halls of his homeland And sought her distant castle. To refresh himself on the journey, He safeguarded in his garments Gold and other gifts That fortune hat granted him. Already near the sweet goal, His rugged path led him In the anxious humidity of noontide Up a steep mountain. From the black chasm Waters rage upward with a dull sound, And above rocky cliffs stare, Confining his passage. Carried onward by love He scales the rock, But into the waves of the torrent All his gold falls. He has reached the summit of the mountain, And sings with joyful spirit: "May my gold lie in the chasm, The zither is my fortune!"
About the headline (FAQ)
Translated titles:"Des Sängers Lohn" = "The minstrel's reward"
"Es zog ein Sänger heiter" = "A minstrel travelled merrily"
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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Des Sängers Lohn"
This text was added to the website: 2015-11-25
Line count: 28
Word count: 142