by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
Translation © by Laura Prichard

Frohe Botschaft
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE ITA
  Hielt die allerschönste Herrin
Einst mein Herz so eng gefesselt,
Daß kein Wort es konnte sprechen
  Aus den engen Fesseln.

  Sandt' es ab als flinke Diener
Feurig schnelle Liebesblicke,
Zu besprechen sich im stillen
  Mit der Herrin Blicken.

  Sandt' es Pagen, fein und listig;
Heimlich schlichen hin die Finger,
Schmiegten leise sich und bittend
  An die schönsten Finger.

  Sandt' es ab zwei kühne Boten;
Sind die Lippen gar verwogen
An der Herrin Mund geflogen,
  Botschaft sich zu holen.

  "Nun, ihr Boten, Pagen, Diener!
Welche Botschaft bringt ihr wieder,
Haben Augen, Finger, Lippen
  Nichts mir zu verkünden?"

  Und voll Freuden rufen Alle:
Juble, Herz! und laß das Zagen,
Deine Herrin sendet Gnade,
  Deine Bande fallen!

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Joiós missatge", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Good news", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Bonnes nouvelles", first published 1892, copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Lieto Messaggio", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 115

Good news
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  The most beautiful lady once held
My heart so completely spellbound,
That it couldn’t speak a word
  In its initimate bonds.

  So it sent off, like a clever servant,
Quick and fiery loving glances,
To consult secretly
  With my lady’s glances.

  It sent page boys, subtle and wily;
Surreptitiously slipping its fingers,
Pleadingly entwining itself
  With the most beautiful one’s fingers.

  It sent two bold messengers;
[Its] lips were foolhardy enough
To fly to my lady’s mouth,
  To get the news.

  “Hear this, you messengers, page boys, servants!
What news do you bring back?
Have these eyes, fingers, lips
  Nothing to report to me?"

  And full of joy, they cry as one:
Exult, O heart, and tremble no more!
Your lady sends her favor,
  Your bonds are released!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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.
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Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2016-09-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 129