On a bank of flow'rs in a summer's day, For summer lightly drest, The youthful, blooming Nelly lay With love and sleep opprest ; When Willie, wand'ring thro' the wood, Who for her favour oft had su'd. He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, And trembled where he stood. Her closed eyes, like weapons sheath'd, Were seal'd in soft repose ; Her lips, still as she fragrant breath'd, It richer dy'd the rose : The springing lilies sweetly prest, Wild, wanton, kiss'd her rival breast; He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, His bosom ill at rest. Her robes light waving in the breeze, Her tender limbs embrace ; Her lovely form, her native ease, All harmony and grace: Tumultuous tides his pulses roll, A faltering, ardent kiss he stole : He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, And sigh'd his very soul. As flies the partridge from the brake On fear-inspired wings, So Nelly, starting, half awake, Away affrighted springs. But Willy follow'd — as he shou'd : He overtook her in the wood ; He vow'd, he pray'd, He found the maid Forgiving all and good.
Confirmed with The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Cambridge edition, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1897, page 218.
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On a bank of flowers" [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 (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "On a bank of flowers", Hob. XXXIa no. 142, JHW. XXXII/2 no. 142 [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by (Johann) Philipp Kaufmann (1802 - 1846) , no title ; composed by Elise Schmezer.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sur une berge fleurie", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-28
Line count: 36
Word count: 184
An Bächleins Rand am Sommertag, Im leichten Sommerkleid, Im Blumenduft schön Nelly lag In Schlaf und Lieb die Maid; Jung Willie durch den Wald da geht, Der oft um ihre Gunst gefleht, Er sieht, wird roth, Er glüht, o Noth! Und zittert, wie er steht. Im Auge nun die Pfeile ruhn, Fest in des Köchers Schooß; Die Lippen thun sich auf, und nun Wird roth vom Hauch die Ros'. Die Lilie blickt, küßt süß gedrückt, Berauscht vor Lust die Lilienbrust; Er sieht, wird roth, Er glüht, o Noth! Und bebt vor Qual und Lust. Ihr leichtes Kleid im Wind umschmiegt Die reizende Gestalt; Und wie sie liegt, sein Herz besiegt Der Schönheit Allgewalt. Der Pulse Glut ihm da nicht ruht, Bis einen heißen Kuß er stahl. Er sieht, wird roth, Er glüht, o Noth! In heißer Herzensqual. So wie ein Rebhuhn aus dem Busch Auffährt, von Furcht beschwingt, Fährt Nelly auf, halb wach, und husch Sie aufgescheucht entspringt: Doch Willie rasch ihr nach, und bald Hat er sie eingeholt im Wald. Bat, schwur 'nen Eid, Und ach die Maid, Die Maid vergab ihm bald.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gedichte von Robert Burns. Übersetzt von Philipp Kaufmann, Stuttgart und Tübingen, Verlag der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1839, pages 147-148.
Text Authorship:
- by (Johann) Philipp Kaufmann (1802 - 1846), no title [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On a bank of flowers"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Schön Nelly", op. 20 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1, published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-02
Line count: 36
Word count: 184