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Auf, es ist entschieden, Munter fort in's Feld! Alles, was im Frieden Bindet ihn und hält, Wirft der kühne Reiter Hinter sich und weiter Trabt er durch die ungestüme Welt. Doch die süße Liebe, Liebchen, wandelt mit, Wie ihn Schicksal triebe, Folgt ihm Schritt auf Schritt, Wagt's, in süßen Bildern Deine Huld zu schildern, Heißt vergessen, was er schweigend litt. Denn die Menschen alle Mögen schwatzen nun! Wenn ich siegend falle, Wird ihr Tadel ruh'n. Unter'm freyen Himmel, Kühn in Schlachtgewimmel Zwängt sich nicht mein Reden und mein Thun. Besser ist's zu bluten, Offen und bewehrt, Als, von wilden Gluthen Schweigend aufgezehrt, Unter Kirchhofsbäumen Todestraum zu träumen, Wo kein Edler den Gefall'nen ehrt.
H. Nägeli sets stanzas 1-2
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 79-80
Authorship
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Reiters Ausfahrt" [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 Hans Georg Nägeli (1773 - 1836), "Reiterausfahrt", published 1817, stanzas 1-2 [men's chorus], confirmed with Gesangbildungslehre für das Männerchore: Chorgesangschule (Zürich: bei H. G. Nägeli, 1821), in Rundgesänge, Song no. XI, page 34 [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Rider’s departure", 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: 2015-12-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 113
Arise, it is decided, Merrily off into the battlefield! Everything that in peacetime Ties and holds him The bold rider casts Behind him, and onward He tramps through the tumultuous world. But sweet love, Beloved, wanders with him Wherever fate drives him, Follows him step after step, Dares in sweet images To depict your grace, Commands him to forget what he suffered silently. Let the people all Gossip now if they will! When I fall victoriously Their censures shall cease. Under the free sky, Boldly in the seething battle My discourse and my actions are not coerced. It is better to bleed, Openly and in arms, Than to be consumed Silently by wild flames, Under the trees of the churchyard To dream the dream of death, Where no noble person honours the fallen one.
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), "Reiters Ausfahrt"
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 134