by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

An die Tauben
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Fliegt nur aus, geliebte Tauben!
Euch als Boten send' ich hin;
Sagt ihr, und sie wird euch glauben,
Daß ich krank vor Liebe bin.

Ihr könnt fliegen, ihr könnt eilen,
Tauben, froh bergab und -an;
Ich muß in der Fremde weilen,
Ewig ein gequälter Mann.

Auch mein Brieflein soll noch gehen
Heut zu ihr, mein Liebesgruß,
Soll sie suchen auf den Höhen,
An dem schönen, grünen Fluß.

Wird sie von den Bergen steigen
Endlich in das Niederland?
Wird sie mir die Sonne zeigen,
Die zu lange schon verschwand?

Vögel, Briefe, Liebesboten,
Lied und Seufzer, sagt ihr's hell:
Suche ihn im Reich der Toten,
Liebchen, oder komme schnell!

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):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Als coloms", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan de duiven", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To the pigeons", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Aux colombes", copyright © 2013, (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: 20
Word count: 107

To the pigeons
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Fly away, beloved pigeons!
 I send you forth as messengers;
 Tell her, and she will believe you,
 That I am sick with love.

 You can fly, you can hurry,
 Pigeons, merrily up and down the mountains;
 I must tarry in this foreign place,
 Ever a tormented man.

 And my little letter should also go
 Today to her, with my love-greeting,
 Should seek her among the heights,
 By the fair, green river.

 Will she finally descend from the mountains
 Into the lowlands?
 Will she show me the sun,
 That disappeared so long ago?

 Birds, letters, messages of love,
 Song and sighs, tell her clearly:
 Search for him in the land of the dead,
 My darling, or come quickly!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 117