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Ein Schäfer saß im Grünen, Sein Liebchen süß im Arm; Durch [Buchenwipfel]1 schienen Der Sonne Strahlen warm. [Er kos'te]2 froh und heiter Von Liebeständeley. Da ritt bewehrt ein Reiter [Den]3 Glücklichen vorbey. »Sitz' ab, und suche Kühle!« Rief ihm der Schäfer zu. »Des Mittags nahe Schwüle Gebiethet stille Ruh'. Noch lacht im Morgenglanze So Strauch als Blume hier, Und Liebchen pflückt zum Kranze Die [frischen]4 Blüthen dir.« Da sprach der finstre Reiter: »Nie [hielt]5 mich Wald und Flur. Mich treibt mein Schicksal weiter, Und ach, mein ernster Schwur! Ich gab mein [frisches]6 Leben Dahin um schnöden Sold; Glück kann ich nicht erstreben, Nur höchstens Ruhm und Gold. Drum schnell, mein Roß, und trabe Vorbey, wo Blumen blüh'n. Einst lohnt wohl Ruh' im Grabe Des Kämpfenden Bemüh'n.«
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1816. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 77-78.
1 Schubert's autograph (by mistake?): "Buchenwipfeln"2 Schubert: "Sie kosten"
3 Schubert's autograph (by mistake?): "Die"
4 Schubert: "schönsten"
5 Schubert: "hält"
6 Schubert: "junges"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Schäfer und Reiter" [author's text checked 2 times 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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Schäfer und der Reiter", op. 13 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 517 (1817) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De herder en de ruiter", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Shepherd and rider", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le berger et le cavalier", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 126
A shepherd sat in the greenery, His arm sweetly about his beloved; Through the treetops shone The sunbeams warmly. [He caressed her]1 joyfully and merrily In the dalliance of love; Then an armoured horseman rode Past the happy ones. "Dismount and seek coolness!" The shepherd called to him. "The approaching sultriness of noontime Commands one to take quiet rest. Still laughing in the glow of morning Are bush and flower here, And my darling shall pick for you The [freshest]2 blossoms to weave into a wreath." Thereupon the sombre rider spoke: "Never could forest and meadow detain me. I am driven onward by my fate, And, ah, by my solemn oath! I traded my young life Away for idle filthy lucre; I cannot strive for happiness, Only at the most for fame and gold. Therefore make haste, my steed, and tramp Past there where flowers bloom; Someday rest in the grave shall Reward the efforts of the warrior."
1 Schubert: "They caressed each other"
2 Schubert: "most beautiful"
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Schäfer und Reiter"
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 158