by Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1906)
Translation by Konstantin Dmitrevich Bal'mont (1867 - 1942)

Bergkongen red sig under ø;
Language: Norwegian (Bokmål) 
Our translations:  FRE
Bergkongen red sig under ø;
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
Vilde han fæste den væne mø. 
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Bergkongen red til herr Håkons gård; 
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
Liden Kirsten stod ude, slog ud sit hår.
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Bergkongen fæsted den væne viv; 
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
Han spændte en sølvgjord omkring hendes liv.
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Bergkongen fæsted den liljevånd
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
Med femten guldringe til hver hendes hånd.
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Tre sommere gik, og der gik vel fem; 
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage -- 
Kirsten sad i berget i alle dem. 
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Fem sommere gik, og der gik vel ni;
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
Liden Kirsten så ikke solen i li.
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

Dalen har blomster og fuglesang;
  -- Så klagelig rinde mine dage --
I berget er der guld og en nat så lang.
  -- Ret aldrig du kommer tilbage --

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Text Authorship:

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 ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Emma Klingenfeld (1846 - 1935) [an adaptation] ; composed by Carl Bohm, Hans Hermann, Hugo Wolf.
  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , from Das Fest auf Solhaug ; composed by Paul Juon.
  • Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Konstantin Dmitrevich Bal'mont (1867 - 1942) , "Горный король", subtitle: "Скандинавская песня" ; composed by Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (William Archer) (Mary Morrison) , appears in The Feast at Solhoug, first published 1907
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le roi de la montagne chevauchait sur l'île", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-25
Line count: 28
Word count: 164

Gorny'j korol` na dalyokom puti
Language: Russian (Русский)  after the Norwegian (Bokmål) 
Gorny'j korol` na dalyokom puti.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Devu-krasaviczu xochet najti.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

Vidit usad`bu na mshistoj gore.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Kirste`n-malyutka stoit na dvore.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

On nazy'vaet nevestoj eyo.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Deve darit ozherel`e svoyo.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

Dal ej on kol`cza, i za ruku vzyal.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Kirste`n-malyutku v svoj zamok umchal.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

Gody' proxodyat, pyat` let proneslos`.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Mnogo bednyazhke poplakat` prishlos`.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

Devyat` i desyat` umchalosya let.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Kirste`n zaby'la pro solnechny'j svet.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

Gde-to vesel`e, czvety', i vesna.
‎— Skuchno v chuzhoj storone. —
Kirste`n vo mrake toskuet odna.
‎— Ty' ne vernyosh`sya ko mne. —

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Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2021-07-10
Line count: 28
Word count: 158