by David Thomson (flourished c1812)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
The Elfin Fairies
Language: English
We fairy elves in secret dells, All day contrive our magic spells, Till sable night o'ercast the sky, And trough the airy regions fly, By Cynthia's light so clear: Around the earth ere dawn of day, On high we win our easy way; Sometimes the lawns to earth inviting, On the velvet turf alighting; So light, so light, So light o'er pliant stalks we fleet, The blade scarce bends beneath our feet, But shakes as if for fear. Refrain So light, so light, So light o'er pliant stalks we fleet, The blade scarce bends beneath our feet, But shakes as if for fear. And if no bus'ness calls from home Around the wheeling globe to roam; We to some flow'ry meadow stray, And sing and dance the night away, Around our Fairy Queen. Then we our mushroom board prepare, The gather'd sweets of flow'rs our fare, The dewy nectar round distilling, All our hairbell goblets filling; Good night, good night: Good night we say, then sink to rest Upon some lily's downy breast, By mortal eyes unseen. Refrain Good night, good night: Good night we say, then sink to rest Upon some lily's downy breast, By mortal eyes unseen.
Text Authorship:
- by David Thomson (flourished c1812) [author's text not yet checked 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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "The Elfin Fairies", WoO. 154 (12 Irische Lieder) no. 1, G. 225 no. 1, published 1812/3 [ voice, piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Die Elfen"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 36
Word count: 199
Die Elfen
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Wir Elfenvolk, versteckt im Hag, Ersinnen Zauberspuk bei Tag, Bis Nacht den Äther Schwarz befällt, Dann ziehn wir durch die luft'ge Welt, Vom Mondlicht klar umschwebt. Im Flug ums All, vor Tagesnahn, Verfolgen wir die steile Bahn, Manchmal hinab von unsern Pfaden Zum grünen Erdenplan geladen; So sacht, so sacht, So sacht streift unser Fuß den Saum, Daß kaum der Hahn sich neigt im Traum, Und wie vor Furcht erbebt. Refrain So sacht, so sacht, So sacht streift unser Fuß den Saum, Daß kaum der Hahn sich neigt im Traum, Und wie vor Furcht erbebt. Und wenn kein Werk uns treibt von Haus Ins All, ins wirbelnde, hinaus, Versingen und vertanzen sacht Auf blum'ger Wiese wir die Nacht, Um unsrer Fürstin Thron. Vom Pilztisch schlürfen wir die Kost, Der Blumen süßen würz'gen Most, Von Hyazinthenbecher nippen Wir Nektartau mit durst'gen Lippen; Schlaft sanft, schlaft süß: Wir flüstern's, bettend uns voll Lust An einer Lilie weiche Brust, Dem Menschenblick entfloh'n. Refrain Schlaft sanft, schlaft süß: Wir flüstern's, bettend uns voll Lust An einer Lilie weiche Brust, Dem Menschenblick entfloh'n.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Die Elfen" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by David Thomson (flourished c1812)
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 ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 36
Word count: 179