by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843)
Translation by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863)
Die Greisin
Language: English
Auch du gingst einst, die Myrt' im Haare, An Bräut'gams Arme zum Altare, Frischblühend wie der May; Auch du bist unter Blüthenkränzen Umhergeschwebt in muntern Tänzen, Bon aller Sorge frei. Ach nun, wie bleich dir deine Wangen, Wie deiner Augen Licht vergangen, So müde Seel' und Leib! Ob Frühling blüh', ob Herbstlaub gelbe, Dein Sitz am Ofen stets derselbe, Schon halb entschlummert Weib! Und doch -- ein Hauch! und deine Mängel Sind abgefallen! bu ein Engel Vor Gottes lichtem Thron! -- Mühsam ist hier die Bahn zu wallen, Schwer das Bestehen, leicht das Fallen; Doch überreich der Lohn.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Die Greisin" [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863) , "On a very old woman", appears in Five German Ditties, no. 4 ; composed by Peter Andrew Tranchell.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 97
And thou wert once a maiden fair
Language: English after the English
And thou wert once a maiden fair, A blushing virgin warm and young: With myrtles wreathed in golden hair, And glossy brow that knew no care -- Upon a bridegroom's arm you hung. The golden locks are silvered now, The blushing cheek is pale and wan; The spring may bloom, the autumn glow, All's one--in chimney corner thou Sitt'st shivering on. -- A moment -- and thou sink'st to rest! To wake perhaps an angel blest, In the bright presence of thy Lord. Oh, weary is life's path to all! Hard is the strife, and light the fall, But wondrous the reward!
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Fraser's Magazine, May 1838, titled "To a very old woman"Text Authorship:
- by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863), "On a very old woman", appears in Five German Ditties, no. 4 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Die Greisin"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Peter Andrew Tranchell (1922 - 1993), "To a very old woman", 1962, first performed 1962 [SATB chorus with divisi a cappella], from Thackeray Ditties, no. 4. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-23
Line count: 16
Word count: 99