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[Der]1 Angel zuckt, die Ruthe bebt, Doch leicht fährt sie heraus. Ihr eigensinn'gen Nixen gebt Dem Fischer keinen Schmaus! Was frommet ihm sein kluger Sinn, Die [Fischlein]2 baumeln spottend hin - Er steht am Ufer fest gebannt, Kann nicht in's Wasser, ihn hält das Land. Die glatte Fläche kräuselt sich, Vom Schuppenvolk bewegt, Das seine Glieder wonniglich In sichern Fluthen regt. Forellen zappeln hin und her, Doch bleibt des Fischers Angel leer, Sie fühlen, was die Freyheit ist, Fruchtlos ist Fischers alte List. Die Erde ist gewaltig schön, Doch sicher ist sie nicht! Es senden Stürme Eiseshöh'n; Der Hagel und der Frost zerbricht Mit einem Schlage, einem Druck, Das gold'ne Korn, der Rosen Schmuck - Den Fischlein [unter's weiche]3 Dach, Kein Sturm folgt ihnen vom Lande nach.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, pages 42-43.
Note provided by Peter Rastl: In Schubert's (and Mayrhofer's, and Goethe's) time there was a distinction between "die Angel" (= door-hinge) and "der Angel" (= fishing tackle). Only in current German both are feminine.
1 Schubert (Peters Edition only): "Die"2 Schubert: "Fische"
3 Schubert: "unterm weichen"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Wie Ulfru fischt" [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 Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Wie Ulfru fischt", op. 21 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, D 525 (1817), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 276, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Com l’Ulfru pesca", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Hoe Ulfru vist", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (T. P. (Peter) Perrin) , "How Ulfru fishes", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "The way that Ulfru fishes", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Comment Ulfru pêche", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 125
De dobber schokt, de hengel beeft, Maar licht slechts slaat hij uit. Gij, eigenzinn'ge Nixen, geeft De visser weer geen buit. Ondanks zijn slimheid heeft hij pech: De vissen buit'len spottend weg. Hij staat geketend aan de kant, Kan niet in 't water, zit vast aan 't land. De gladde vlakte welt en woelt, Door 't schubbenvolk beroerd, Dat onbekommerd speelt en spoelt En zijn ballet uitvoert. Forellen dart'len heen en weer, Toch mist de visser keer op keer. Zij voelen wat de vrijheid is, Dus faalt de oude visserslist. De aarde is geweldig mooi, maar veilig is zij niet. De stormen brengen ijs en dooi, De hagel of de vorst vernielt Met 'n enk'le slag, met simp'le kracht Het gouden graan, de rozenpracht; De vissen onder hun zachte dak Bereikt geen storm, hoe sterk en strak.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2005 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Wie Ulfru fischt"
This text was added to the website: 2005-12-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 137