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Herr Olaf fährt abends zum Fischfang hinaus Ins endlose Meer, in der Wellen Gebraus. Es schaukelt die Fackel, der Kan [sic] fliegt schnell, Es eilen die Fische zum blendenden Licht-- Und seht ihr die tückischen Netze nicht. Ihr eilet in euer Verderben, Und ist doch so bitter, zu sterben Im Mondlicht. Herr Olaf blickt auf das wogende Meer-- Wie flimmern und leuchten die Wellen umher! Es gleitet dahin auf kyrstallner Ban [sic], Es wiegt auf den Wogen und schaukelt der Kan [sic], Vom Himmel hernieder der Vollmond schaut-- Herr Olaf verließ seine treulose Braut.-- Die Sternlein blitzen und winken, Die Wellen rauschen und blinken Im Mondlicht. Herr Olaf schaut tief in das Wasser hinein, Da sieht er ein Schloß von Korallengestein, Und Nixen tanzen im Algenwald, Von langen, wehenden Haren [sic] umwallt; Sie singen so lockend und winken ihm zu: "Hernieder, Herr Olaf! hier findest du Ruh! Wir betten zu seligem Traume Dich sorgsam auf schwellendem Flaume Im Mondlicht!" Wie ward es Herrn Olaf so weh und wund-- "Dort unten, da wird wol [sic] mein Herz gesund! Mein Leben verloren, mein Glück im Grab-- Nun will ich sinken in's Meer hinab!" Die Nixen schwimmen herbei sogleich. "Herr Olaf, wie bist du so traurig und bleich! Was willst du langsam verbluten?"-- Da sank er hinab in die Fluten Im Mondlicht.
Confirmed with Gustav Kastropp, König Elf’s Lieder. Eine lyrische Rhapsodie, Zweite Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1877, pages 35-36
Authorship:
- by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 1. Erster Teil. Rosenzeit, no. 34, first published 1875 [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 Lothar Kempter (1844 - 1918), "Herr Olaf", op. 23 (Vier Gesänge für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 4, published 1897 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Rob. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Lord Olaf", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-03-30
Line count: 35
Word count: 219
In the evening Lord Olaf goes fishing, Out into the endless sea, into the roaring of the waves. The flambeau rocks back and forth, the boat flies quickly, The fish hasten toward the blinding light-- And do you not see the treacherous nets[?] You hasten toward your ruin, And yet it is so bitter to die In the moonlight. Lord Olaf gazes upon the seething sea-- How the waves flicker and gleam all around! [The boat] glides onward upon a crystalline pathway, The boat rocks and swings upon the waves, The full moon looks down from the heavens-- Lord Olaf left his faithless bride.-- The stars twinkle and beckon, The waves roar and sparkle In the moonlight. Lord Olaf gazes deeply into the water, There he sees a palace of coral, And mermaids dance in the algae-forest, With long, billowing hair swirling about them; They sing so enticingly and beckon to him: "Come down, Lord Olaf! here you shall find rest! We shall tuck you up carefully upon swelling foam To [sleep and] dream a blissful dream In the moonlight!" Lord Olaf felt so woeful and wounded-- "Down there my heart would surely recover! My life lost, my happiness in the grave-- Now I shall sink down into the sea!" The mermaids immediately swim to him. "Lord Olaf, how so sad and pale you are! Why would you want to die lingeringly?"-- At that, he sank down into the floodwaters In the moonlight.
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 1. Erster Teil. Rosenzeit, no. 34, first published 1875
This text was added to the website: 2017-06-16
Line count: 35
Word count: 243