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[Schon im bunten Knabenkleide]1, Pflegten hübsche Mägdelein Meine liebste Augenweide, Mehr als Pupp' und Ball, zu sein. Ich vergaß der Vogelnester, Warf mein Steckenpferd ins Gras, Wenn am Baum bei meiner Schwester Eine schöne Dirne saß; Freute mich der muntern Dirne, Ihres rothen Wangenpaars, Ihres Mundes, ihrer Stirne, Ihres blonden Lockenhaars; [Blickt' auf Busentuch und Mieder, Hinterwärts gelehnt am Baum; Streckte dann ins Gras mich nieder, Dicht an ihres Kleides Saum.]2 Was ich weiland that als Knabe, Werd' ich wahrlich immer thun, Bis ich werd' im kühlen Grabe Neben meinen Vätern ruhn.
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1-4
Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludewig Heinrich Christoph Hölty. Besorgt durch seine Freunde Friederich Leopold Grafen zu Stolberg und Johann Heinrich Voß. Carlsruhe, bey Christian Gottlieb Schmieder, 1784, pages 142-143; and with Poetische Blumenlese für das Jahr 1777. Herausgegeben von Joh. Heinr. Voß. Hamburg, bey Carl Ernst Bohn, page 166.
This is the version of Hölty's poem heavily reworked by Voß. For the original version, with the title Minnehuldigung, see below.
1 Hölty/Voß (Musenalmanach 1777): "Seit dem ersten Flügelkleide"2 Hölty/Voß (Musenalmanach 1777):
Immer beym Kalmäusern fielen Mir die Dirnen ein, und frisch Warf ich Cäsarn und Virgilen Und den Donat untern Tisch.
Text Authorship:
- by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
- by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777 [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 Georg Christoph Grossheim (1764 - 1841), "Die frühe Liebe", 1805/6? [sung text not yet checked]
- by Antonio Rosetti, né Anton Rösler (1750 - 1792), as Anton Rösler, "Die frühe Liebe" [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die frühe Liebe", D 430 (1816), published 1895, stanzas 1-4 [ voice, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L’amor primerenc", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Vroege liefde", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Young love", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Amour précoce", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
Even when [I wore] the bright clothes of a boy, Pretty maidens were My preferred eye candy, Rather than dolls or balls. I forgot [about] bird’s nests, Threw my stick horse on the lawn, Whenever a bonny lass sat Next to my sister, under a tree. I was thrilled by the merry lass, By her rosy cheeks, Her mouth, her forehead, Her blonde curls. I would gaze at her blouse and bodice, As she leaned against the tree; Then I'd stretch out on the grass, Close to the hem of her dress. (What I did in olden times as a boy, I’d really always [prefer to] do, Until I find myself in a cold grave Resting next to my fathers.)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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 Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777 and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 20
Word count: 120