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Im dunklen Bergesschooße Schläft wohl an tausend Jahr' Schon Kaiser Karl der Große Mit seiner Heldenschar. Er sitzt auf einem Throne Wie tief in sich gekehrt, Auf seinem Haupt die Krone Und auf den Knien sein Schwert. Den Heldenleib umschließt ihm Ein Panzer guter Art, Und bis zur Erde fließt ihm Wie rotes Gold sein Bart. Die Bergkobolde schaffen Und schmieden wohlbedacht Viel seltenes Gewaffen Zur großen Völkerschlacht. Sie festen drein Karfunkel Und Gold und Edelstein; Das wirft im Bergesdunkel Gar wunderbaren Schein. Der älteste der Zwerge Der prüft genau und mißt, Wie lang dem Kaiser im Berge Der Bart gewachsen ist. Und horch! ein dumpfes Rollen Dröhnt fernher durch den Schacht, Wie starkes Wettergrollen In dunkler Frühlingsnacht. Da fährt empor vom Traume Der kaiserliche Held Und ruft: "Schon rauscht's im Baume Dort auf dem Walserfeld; "Die jungen Säfte steigen Im dürren Stamm empor, Bald bricht aus allen Zweigen Der Blütenschmuck hervor. "Ich höre fern Getöse, Schlachtruf und Roßgestampf; Es naht für Deutschlands Größe Der letzte Völkerkampf. "Drum will ich euch erwecken, Ihr Schläfer in der Nacht: Ihr Paladin' und Recken, Der Kaiser ruft, erwacht! "Nun ist es Zeit zu reiten, Die Waffen in der Hand, Die Freiheit zu erstreiten Dem deutschen Volk und Land."
Confirmed with Gedichte von Georg Scherer, vierte, vermehrte Auflage, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Berlin, Wien: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1894, pages 230-232
Authorship:
- by Georg Scherer (1824 - 1909), "Kaiser Karl im Untersberg", appears in Gedichte von Georg Scherer, in 3. Drittes Buch [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 Max Zenger (1837 - 1911), "Kaiser Karl im Untersberg", op. 23 (Fünf vierstimmige Männergesänge) no. 5, published 1876 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The emperor Charlemagne in the Untersberg", 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: 2012-05-10
Line count: 48
Word count: 205
In the dark lap of the mountain For nigh a thousand years already Sleeps Charlemagne With his horde of heroes. He sits upon a throne As if withdrawn into himself, Upon his head is the crown And upon his knees his sword. The heroic body is begirded By well-made armour, And unto the ground flows His beard like red gold. The trolls of the mountain work And forge with great consideration Much rare weaponry For the great battle of the nations. They fasten therein carbuncles And gold and precious stones; In the darkness of the mountain, That casts a wondrous radiance. The oldest of the dwarves, He examines precisely and measures How long there in the mountain The emperor's beard has grown. And hark! a muffled roar Drones through the shaft from far away, Like mighty thunder growling In the dark spring night. At that the imperial hero Starts up from his dream And calls out: "Already there is a roaring in the tree Yonder upon the field of the Walser; "The fresh sap is rising Up the dried out trunk, Soon from all the branches Shall burst forth the adornment of blossoms. "I hear distant roaring, Battle cries and the stamping of horses; That last national battle for Germany’s greatness nears. "Therefore I shall awaken you, You sleepers in the night: You paladins and warriors, The emperor calls, awake! "Now is the time to ride [forth] With your weapons in your hand, To win freedom in battle For the German people and country."
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 Georg Scherer (1824 - 1909), "Kaiser Karl im Untersberg", appears in Gedichte von Georg Scherer, in 3. Drittes Buch
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-16
Line count: 48
Word count: 254