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Spähend nach dem Eisengitter Bei des Mondes hellem Schein, Steht ein Minstrel mit der Zither Vor dem Schlosse Dürrenstein; Stimmt sein Spiel zu sanfter Weise Und beginnt sein Lied dazu, Denn ein Ahnen sagt ihm leise: "Suche treu, so findest du!" König Richard, Held von Osten, Sankst du wirklich schon hinab? Muß dein Schwert im Meere rosten, Oder deckt dich fern ein Grab? Suchend dich auf allen Wegen, Wallt dein Minstrel ohne Ruh', Denn ihm sagt ein leises Regen: "Suche treu, so findest du!" Gehst du lebend noch hienieden? Stellt vielleicht ein Feind dir nach, Um in Ketten dich zu schmieden, Der so viele Ketten brach? Oder liegst du schon gebunden, Stolzer Löw', in schnöder Ruh'?-- Hoffnung ruft zu allen Stunden: "Suche treu, so findest du!" Hoffe, Richard, und vertraue! Treue lenkt und leitet mich; Und im fernen Heimatgaue Betet Liebe still für dich. Blondel folget deinen Bahnen, Margot winkt dir sehnend zu, Deinem Minstrel sagt ein Ahnen: "Suche treu, so findest du!" Horch! da tönt es leise, leise Aus dem Burgverließ empor, Eine wohlbekannte Weise Klingt an Blondel's lauschend Ohr. Wie ein Freundesruf, ein trauter, Schallt sein eigen Lied ihm zu, Und sein Ahnen sagt ihm lauter: "Suche treu, so findest du!" Was er sang, das singt er wieder, Wieder tönt es ihm zurück, Süßes Echo klingt hernieder -- Keine Täuschung! -- sichres Glück! Den er sucht auf seinen Bahnen, Ach sein König ruft ihm zu; Nicht vergebens war sein Ahnen: "Suche treu, so findest du!" Heimwärts fliegt er mit der Kunde, Da war Leid und Freude groß, Fliegt zurück mit edler Runde, Kauft den teuren König los. Rings umstaunt vom frohen Kreise Stürzt der Held dem Sänger zu; Gut bewährt hat sich die Weise: "Suche treu, so findest du!"
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1-2, 4-7
Confirmed with: Poetischer Hausschatz des deutschen Volkes, herausgegeben von Dr. O.L.B. Wolff, Supplementband, Zweite Auflage, Leipzig: Verlag von Otto Wigand, 1843, page 119.
Authorship:
- by Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875), "Blondels Lied" [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 Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Blondels Lied", op. 53 (Romanzen und Balladen für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 3)) no. 1 (1840), published 1845, stanzas 1-2,4-7 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La cançó de Blondel", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Blondels lied", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Blondel's song", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le chant de Blondel", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Saúl Botero Restrepo) , "Canción de Blondel", copyright © 2016, (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: 56
Word count: 290
Gazing toward the barred window By the bright light of the moon, A minstrel stands with his zither Before the Castle Dürrenstein; Tunes his playing to a soft lay And begins his song to the accompaniment, For a premonition tells him softly: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" King Richard, hero of the East, Have you truly already sunk down [into your grave]? Must your sword grow rusty in the sea, Or are you covered by a distant grave? Searching for you on all pathways, Your minstrel travels without rest, For a quiet stirring tells him: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" Do you still walk, living, here below? Is perhaps an enemy stalking you In order to cast you in chains, You, who broke so many chains? Or do you lie already bound, Proud lion, in despicable immobility? -- Hope calls out at every hour: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" Hope, Richard, and trust! Faithfulness guides and leads me; And in the far-off home county Love prays quietly for you. Blondel is following your trails, Margot beckons to you longingly, A premonition tells your minstrel: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" Hark! Something sounds softly, softly Up from the dungeon, A well-known air Reaches Blondel's listening ear. Like the call of the friend, a well-loved [friend], His own song echoes back to him, And his premonition tells him more loudly: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" What he sang, he sings again, Again it echoes back to him, A sweet echo rings down -- It is no deception! sure good fortune! He whom he seeks upon his travel, Ah, his king calls back to him; His premonition was not in vain: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!" He flies homeward with the tidings, There was great sorrow and joy, Flies back back with a noble host And ransoms the precious king. As a joyful circle gazes wonderingly at him, The hero rushes toward the singer; The song has proved itself well: "Seek faithfully, and thou shalt find!"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Sharon Krebs, (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 Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875), "Blondels Lied"
This text was added to the website: 2015-04-10
Line count: 56
Word count: 338