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possibly by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
Die Meerfey
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Our translations: ENG
Wie lieblich summt auf Jura's Höh' Die Biene in dem Blütenwald! Wie hold klagt der Delphin sein Weh', Das von der Woge wiederhallt! Das leichtgewund'ne Ruder schlägt Zu weißem Schaum die See, Und Echo zu den Felsen trägt Die Melodie von Colonsay. Das Mondlicht wiegt sich auf der Flut, Die Ruder blinken feucht, Und auf der weißen Woge ruht Ein weiblich Wesen leicht. Sie zog hervor den Perlenkamm, Und strählt' ihr gold'nes Haar, Ihr Auge, süß in Liebesgram, War wie der Mond so klar. Wie Glockenton, den fern und lies Der Liebende entdeckt Im Traume, den die Seele weiß, Doch der das Ohr nicht weckt[,]1 So zog die süße Melodie Hin durch die lauschend stille See, Sprich! hörtest du die Weise nie? Es ist das Lied von Colonsay. Auf schwellend leiser Woge schwebt Sie zu dem Schiffer her, Und siehe! sich der Jüngling hebt, Und stürzt sich in das Meer. Und immer wenn das Jahr erfüllt, Wie Glöckchen aus der See, Es klingend durch die Woge quilt, Die Melodie von Colonsay. Doch süßer noch und holder klingt Das Lied der Meerfee auf der See. Wenn sie die Flut zur Ruhe singt Dort vor dem Riff von Colonsay.
View original text (without footnotes)
Note: The first three and a half stanzas are a translation of stanzas 1, 7, 16, and 31 (first two lines) of the poem by Sir Walter Scott; the remainder of the text appears to have been written by the translator.
1 incorrectly given as a period or full stop in the Droste score
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Note: The first three and a half stanzas are a translation of stanzas 1, 7, 16, and 31 (first two lines) of the poem by Sir Walter Scott; the remainder of the text appears to have been written by the translator.
1 incorrectly given as a period or full stop in the Droste score
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848) [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The Mermaid"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848), "Die Meerfey", published 1877 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The sea-fairy", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-16
Line count: 36
Word count: 198
The sea‑fairy
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
How mellifluously upon Jura’s heights Hums the bee in the blossom grove! How lovely is the lament of the dolphin, Which echoes from the wave! The gently-spiralled oar beats The sea into white foam, And Echo carries to the rocks The melody of Colonsay. Moonlight plays upon the flood, The oars sparkle with water, And upon the white wave lightly rests A womanly creature. She took out her pearly comb And combed her golden hair, Her eyes, shining sweetly with the grief of love, Were as clear as the moon. Like the sound of bells, which a lover Discerns -- soft and distant -- In a dream; which the soul knows, But which does not awaken the ear[,]1 Thus the sweet melody travelled on Through the hearkening, quiet sea, Speak! have you never heard the lay? It is the song of Colonsay. Upon the swelling silent wave It wafts toward the sailor, And lo! the youth rises up And throws himself into the sea. And ever when the year’s gone by, From the sea like little bells Ringing, it bubbles through the wave, The melody of Colonsay. But sweeter yet and more lovely sounds The song of the sea-fairy upon the sea, When she sings the floodwaters to rest There before the reefs of Colonsay.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 incorrectly given as a period or full stop in the Droste score
1 incorrectly given as a period or full stop in the Droste score
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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) possibly by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848)
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The Mermaid"
This text was added to the website: 2017-02-06
Line count: 36
Word count: 214