by Richard Lovelace (1618 - 1658)
Translation by Adolf von Marées (1801 - 1874)
To Althea, from prison
Language: English
When Love with unconfined wings Hovers within my Gates; And my divine Althea brings To whisper at the Grates: When I lye tangled in her haire, [And]1 fetterd to her eye; The Gods, that wanton in the Aire, Know no such Liberty. When flowing Cups run swiftly round With no allaying Thames, Our carelesse heads with Roses [bound]2, Our hearts with Loyall Flames; When thirsty griefe in Wine we steepe, When Healths and draughts go free, Fishes that tipple in the Deepe, Know no such Libertie. When (like committed Linnets) I With shriller throat shall sing The sweetnes, Mercy, Majesty, And glories of my KING; When I shall voyce aloud, how Good He is, how Great should be; [Inlarged]3 Winds that curle the Flood, Know no such Liberty. Stone Walls doe not a Prison make, Nor I'ron bars a Cage; Mindes innocent and quiet take That for an Hermitage; If I have freedome in my Love, And in my soule am free; Angels alone that sore above, Injoy such Liberty.
C. Parry sets stanzas 1-2, 4
1 Parry: "Or"
2 Parry: "crowned"
3 Quilter: "enlargèd"
Text Authorship:
- by Richard Lovelace (1618 - 1658), "To Althea, from prison" [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 J. Frederick Keel (1871 - 1954), "To Althea, from prison" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Sir (1848 - 1918), "To Althea, from prison", 1895, published 1895, stanzas 1-2,4 [ voice and piano ], from English Lyrics, Third Set, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Roger Quilter (1877 - 1953), "To Althea, from prison", op. 28 no. 4 (1925), published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Five Jacobean Lyrics, no. 4, London, Boosey [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Maude Valérie White (1855 - 1937), "To Althea from prison", published 1882 [ voice and piano ], London: Boosey & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Adolf von Marées) , "Der Cavalier im Gefängnis"
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 174
Der Cavalier im Gefängnis
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Wenn Liebesschwingen ungehemmt Durch meinen Kerker flattern, Auf denen her Althea kömmt, Zu flüstern an den Gattern; Lieg' ich umstrickt von ihrem Haar, In ihrem Aug' begraben: Kann Vöglein der Luftwildfang, gar Nicht solche Freiheit haben. Wenn rundum rasch die Becher gehn, Voll Stoff's, der lindert Schmerzen, Um uns're Stirnen Rosen wehn, Und Treue flammt im Herzen; Wenn wir, im Wein den Gram ersäuft, Am Trinkspruch uns erlaben, Kann Fischlein, das im Meere schweift, Nicht solche Freiheit haben. Wenn, eingesperrt, dem Hänfling gleich, Ich singe hell, volltönig, Wie gnädig, huldvoll, ruhmesreich Und herrlich ist mein König; Wenn laut ich zeuge, wie so gut Er sey, der so erhaben: Kann Lüftlein, kräuselt es die Flut, Nicht solche Freiheit haben. Die Mauer macht den Kerker nicht, Den Käfig nicht das Gatter; Wer ruhig, frei von Schuld sich spricht, Des Klaunsners Loos hier hat er! Wenn mich mit Freiheit, Liebe so Und Seelenruh begaben: Kann Englein, schwebt es droben froh, Nur solche Freiheit haben!
Text Authorship:
- by Adolf von Marées (1801 - 1874), "Der Cavalier im Gefängnis" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Richard Lovelace (1618 - 1658), "To Althea, from prison"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Volkmar Henschel
This text was added to the website: 2021-02-19
Line count: 32
Word count: 161