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by Franz Theodor Kugler (1808 - 1858)
Translation © by Dr Catherine Watts
Der junge König und sein Gemahl
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG
Der junge König und sein Gemahl, Die saßen zusammen im hohen Saal. Sie war an Huld und Anmuth reich; Er schaute finster und war so bleich. "Gregor, mein holder Freund, o sprecht. Hat Wer gekränkt euer königlich Recht?" -- ""Frau Kön'gin, ich trag' ein gutes Schwert, Das jegliche Kränkung von sich wehrt."" -- "Gregor, mein Freund, gesteht mir's ein, Es zehrt ein Fieber an eurem Gebein!" ""Frau Kön'gin, ich habe noch heilt mit Lust Den wilden Bären zu jagen gewußt."" "Gregor, so drückt euch geheime Schuld; Vertraut euch Christo und seiner Huld!" -- ""Frau Königin, gestern empfing ich schon Für meine Sünden Absolution."" -- "Ach fühltest, Gregor, du mein liebend Herz, [Du gäbest mir Theil an deinem]1 Schmerz!" -- ""Mein Weib, mein Leben, du meine Lust! Zerreißen auch dir das Herz in der Brust? [""Wohlan denn, so wisse: zu Boden drückt Die Krone mich, die das Haupt mir schmückt! ""Und wisse: es brennt deiner Liebe Glut Wie höllisches Feuer in meinem Blut!]2 ""O hätte mich nimmer mein treues Roß Getragen in dieses leuchtende Schloß! ""O hätte nimmer mein siegreich Schwert Den übermüthigen Feinden gewehrt! ""O wärst du nimmer und dein Thron Gewesen des kühnen Siegers Lohn!"" "Weh, wehe Gregor! was treibt, o sprich, Zu so vermessenen Worten dich?" -- ""Ja, wehe! ich bin ein Fürstensohn, Und doch geboren für keinen Thron. ""Der Eltern sündigem Vergehn Sollt' ich durch Buße Verzeihung erstehn. ""Noch hab' ich gebetet, gebüßet nicht, Noch [liegt]3 auf ihnen der Sünde Gewicht!"" "Du hast mir nie deiner Heimat Land, Mir nie den Namen der Eltern genannt?" ""Fremd blieben mir Land und Eltern bis jetzt: [Ich ward als ein Kindlein]4 ausgesetzt. ""Es trieb die See ein [Kästlein]5 an's Land, Darin ein Fischer den Knaben fand."" -- "Weh, Knabe! und kenn' ich dein enges Gemach, -- Doch künde mir du deiner Eltern Schmach!" ""Vernimm denn, o Weib, -- doch starre mir nicht So ängstlich fragend [in mein]6 Gesicht -- ""Daß meine Mutter -- verstumme mein Mund! Und mache [nimmer den Frevel]7 kund -- ""Daß meine Mutter in [Lieb']8 ein Jahr Dem eigenen Bruder ergeben war."" "Das Kreuz, Gregor! -- o [blutiger]9 Tag! Das Pergament [bringe]10, das bei dir lag!" -- Er brachte schleunig das Pergament: ""Sagt, Königin, ob ihr die Schrift hier kennt?"" Er brachte das [Demant-Kreuz]11 herbei, Sie stürzte zur Erde mit lautem Schrei. Sie raufte verzweifelnd [ihr goldnes]12 Haar: "Verflucht die Stunde, die dich gebar! "Verflucht du König! verflucht [dein Weib, -- Sie selber trug dich in ihrem]13 Leib!" Ohnmächtig lag sie. Ihr Sohn Gregor Schritt schweigend hinaus [zu]14 des Schlosses Thor.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Loewe: "Mitteilend lindertest du deinen"
2 omitted by Loewe.
3 Loewe: "liegt"
4 Loewe: "Als ein Kindlein ward ich"
5 Loewe: "Kästchen"
6 Loewe: "ins"
7 Loewe: "den Frevel niemals"
8 Loewe: "Liebe"
9 Loewe: "qualvoller"
10 Loewe: "bringe mir"
11 Loewe: "goldne Kreuz"
12 Loewe: "das dunkle"
13 Loewe: "dein Weib,/ Das selber dich trug in seinem"
14 Loewe: "vor"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
1 Loewe: "Mitteilend lindertest du deinen"
2 omitted by Loewe.
3 Loewe: "liegt"
4 Loewe: "Als ein Kindlein ward ich"
5 Loewe: "Kästchen"
6 Loewe: "ins"
7 Loewe: "den Frevel niemals"
8 Loewe: "Liebe"
9 Loewe: "qualvoller"
10 Loewe: "bringe mir"
11 Loewe: "goldne Kreuz"
12 Loewe: "das dunkle"
13 Loewe: "dein Weib,/ Das selber dich trug in seinem"
14 Loewe: "vor"
Text Authorship:
- by Franz Theodor Kugler (1808 - 1858), written 1832, appears in Romanzen und Legenden, in Gregor auf dem Steine. Legende, no. 3, first published 1840 [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 Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Der junge König und sein Gemahl", op. 38 no. 3 (1834), published 1836, from Gregor auf dem Stein, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Dr Catherine Watts) , "The young King and his spouse", copyright © 2020, (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: 64
Word count: 424
The young King and his spouse
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The young King and his spouse sat together in the great hall. She was rich in beauty and loveliness. He looked bleak and was very pale. “Gregor my fair friend, oh tell me - Has someone insulted your Kingship?” “My Queen, I carry a good sword that can defend me from any insult.” “Gregor my friend, admit to me that a fever is sapping the strength from your body.” “My Queen, I even knew how to heal the wounds made by the wild bears I hunted.” “Gregor, if a secret guilt oppresses you, then trust in Christ and His graciousness.” “My Queen, yesterday I received absolution for my sins.” “Oh feel this, Gregor, my own dear heart, that you have given me a share of your pain.” “My wife, my life, my joy, Is your heart also breaking in your body? [... ...] [... ...] Oh, if only my faithful horse had never brought me to this shining castle! Oh, if only my sword had never been victorious over those arrogant enemies! Oh, if only you and your throne had never been the reward for the brave victor!” “Oh woe, woe Gregor! Oh tell me what is driving you to speak such bold words.” “Yes, alas! I am the son of a Prince and yet not born for any throne. I have to gain forgiveness through penance for my parents’ sinful misconduct. Until now I have prayed, but not paid penance and so the weight of their sins lie on them still. “ “You’ve never told me where you come from or the names of your parents.” “Until now I didn’t know where I came from or the names of my parents. I was abandoned as a young child. The sea washed a casket onto the land. A fisherman found the young lad inside.” “Oh woe, young lad, and I know your cramped chamber. But tell me of your parents’ disgrace.” “Listen well, oh my wife – but don’t stare up into my face so anxiously and so full of questions.” My mother – oh silence my mouth and never let this heinous deed known - My mother submitted to her own brother in love for a year.” “The cross Gregor – oh cursed day. Bring me the parchment that was next to you.” He quickly brought the parchment. “Tell me, oh queen, whether you recognise the handwriting.” He brought the diamond-encrusted cross and she fell to the ground with a loud cry. She tore despairingly at her golden hair. “Cursed be the hour that gave birth to you. Cursed be you, the King. Cursed be your wife as she bore you herself in her womb.” She lay there unconscious. Her son Gregor silently slipped away through the castle door.
Note: this is a translation of Loewe's version.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Dr Catherine Watts, (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) by Franz Theodor Kugler (1808 - 1858), written 1832, appears in Romanzen und Legenden, in Gregor auf dem Steine. Legende, no. 3, first published 1840
This text was added to the website: 2020-12-23
Line count: 64
Word count: 454