Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Wie zog der König an den Rhein? Lockt' ihn der Schlachten Feuerschein? Zog er hinaus zu Kampf und Blut Mit hartem Sinn und wildem Muth? O nein, ich sah sein Auge naß, -- Das war nicht Kampfbegier, nicht Haß --, Er dacht' an jedes Landeskind, Deß rothes Blut zu Boden rinnt; Ihm ging schon durch sein ahnend Herz Der Gattin und der Mutter Schmerz, Die Kranken sah er matt und blaß, Drum war des Königs Auge naß. Wie zog der König in den Krieg? Wähnt' er so leicht den blut'gen Sieg? Verließ er sich auf Mann und Roß, Und seines Donnerrohrs Geschoß? O nein, er baute nicht allein Auf sich und seine Kriegerreih'n, Er beugte wohl sein greises Haupt, Mit frischem Lorbeer dicht umlaubt, Von allem Uebermuthe fern Demüthig vor dem Herrn der Herr'n Und wollte nur aus seiner Hand Den Sieg für unser Vaterland. So zog der König aus Berlin, Drum hat ihm Gott den Sieg verlieh'n, Und seiner Feinde stolze Macht Vor seinem Schwert zu Fall gebracht. Und wie er ging, [kehrt]1 er zurück, Sein thränenreiches Siegerglück Verknüpfe neu mit heil'gem Band Den König und das Vaterland. So kehr' er aus dem blut'gen Feld Von Gott beschützt, der theure Held, Wenn er sein Werk vollendet hat, Zurück in seine treue Stadt!
Confirmed with Monatsblätter für innere Zeitgeschichte. Studien der deutschen Gegenwart für den socialen und religösen Frieden der Zukunft, herausgegeben von Dr. Heinrich Gelzer, Fünfunddreißigster Band (Januar bis Juni 1870), page 138
1 Taubert: "kehr' "Authorship:
- by Ernst Curtius (1814 - 1896), "Des Königs Auszug" [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 (Karl Gottfried) Wilhelm Taubert (1811 - 1891), "Des Königs Auszug", op. 180 no. 1, published 1871 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, T. Trautwein [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The king’s departure [to war]", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-07-07
Line count: 36
Word count: 212
How did the king set forth to the Rhine? Was he enticed there by the fiery gleam of combat? Did he go out to the battle and the blood With a hard spirit and a wild courage? Oh no, I saw that his eye was wet, -- That was not a craving for conflict, not hate --, He thought of every child of the land, Whose red blood was dripping upon the earth; Through his heart already passed a premonition Of the wife’s and the mother’s pain; He saw the wounded, weary and pale; That is why the king’s eye was wet. How did the king set forth to war? Did he imagine that the bloody victory would be so easy? Did he place his trust upon man and steed, And the shooting of his thunderstick? Oh no, he did not count only on Himself and his rows of troops, He bowed his grizzled head, Thickly woven about with fresh laurel, Free of all haughtiness Humbly before the Lord of Lords And from His hand alone wanted Victory for our homeland. Thus the king set forth from Berlin, Therefore God gave him victory, And brought the proud might of his enemies To fall before his sword. And as he went, [he returned,]1 May his victor’s happiness, replete with tears, Unite anew, with a holy tie, The king and the homeland. May he return thus from the bloody field, Protected by God, the valued hero, When he has completed his work, Return into his faithful city!
1 Taubert: "may he return"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ernst Curtius (1814 - 1896), "Des Königs Auszug"
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 254