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 
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.
Mir ist so wohl, so weh Am stillen Erlafsee. Heilig Schweigen In Fichtenzweigen. Regungslos Der [dunkle]1 Schooß; Nur der Wolken Schatten flieh'n [Überm glatten]2 Spiegel hin. Feenbild, was willst du mir, So [umschwebst]3 du mich auch hier? Weiche aus dem Land der Hirten. Hier gedeihen keine Myrthen; Schilfgras nur und Tannenwucht Kränzen diese stille Bucht. Frische Winde Kräuseln linde Das Gewässer; Und der Sonne [Güldne]4 Krone Flimmert blässer. Ach, weine nicht, du süßes Bild! Der Wellendrang ist bald gestillt, Und glatter See, und Lüfte lau, Erheitern dich, du Wunderfrau. Des Sees Rand Umschlingt ein Band, Aus [lichtem]5 Grün gewunden: [Es ist der Fluß, der]6 treiben muß Die Sägemühlen unten. Unwillig krümmt er sich am Steg Von seiner schönen Mutter weg, Und fließt zu fernen Gründen. Wirst, Liebe! auch mit [holder]7 Hand, Des Sängers ernstes Felsenland, Mit Blüthenroth umwinden?
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1, 3
Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, pages 94-95; and with Mahlerisches Taschenbuch für Freunde interessanter Gegenden Natur- und Kunst Merkwürdigkeiten der Österreichischen Monarchie. Sechster Jahrgang. Wien, 1818. Im Verlage bey Anton Doll, pages 185-186.
1 Schubert; and Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "blaue"2 Schubert: "Überm dunklen"; Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "Über'n glatten"
3 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "umspinnst"
4 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "Goldne"
5 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "hellem"
6 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "Das Band, ein Fluß / Dann"
7 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "milder"
Authorship:
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Erlafsee" [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Erlafsee", op. 8 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, D 586 (1817), published 1818, stanzas 1,3 [ voice, piano ], as musical supplement in Mahlerisches Taschenbuch [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El llac Erlaf", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Erlafmeer", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Lake Erlaf", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (Shula Keller) , "Erlafsee", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Lake Erlaf", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le lac Erlaf", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Il lago Erlaf", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 138
I feel so well, such pain, By quiet Lake Erlaf. Sacred silence In the branches of the spruce trees. Without movement The blue womb; Only the shadows of the clouds are flying Away across the dark mirror. You spritely apparition, what do you want with me, Are you going to haunt me even here? Withdraw from the land of the shepherds. No myrtles flourish here; Only reeds and mighty fir trees Garland this quiet bay. Fresh winds Are gently ruffling The waters; And the sun's Golden crown Is shimmering more faintly. Oh, do not cry, sweet apparition! The urge of the waves will soon calm down, And the smooth lake and warm breezes Will cheer you up, you amazing woman. The lake edge is Encircled by a ribbon Woven from light green: It is the river That must drive The saw mills down there. It reluctantly winds back on itself by the footbridge Leaving its beautiful mother behind, And flows off towards the distant lowlands. Will you, beloved, also reach out your beautiful hand And adorn this singer's solemn rocky landscape, Surrounding it with blossoming red?
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Erlafsee"
This text was added to the website: 2018-09-16
Line count: 36
Word count: 186