by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)

By the side of the Shannon
Language: English 
By the side of the Shannon was laid a young Lover,
"I hate this dull river", he fretfully cried;
"Yon tempest is coming, this willow my cover,
How sultry the air, not a zephyr", he sigh'd.
"Go, bee! -- get along -- why so idly remaining,
For here are no roses, thou troublesome thing!
Peace nightingale! Peace to that ditty complaining
Oh, can it be thus that these nightingales sing?"
But now a light form, with a smile archly playing.
All beaming in beauty, before him appear'd;
"O Ellen!" He cried, "why thus strangely delaying,
My dearest, my Ellen, what have I not fear'd."
And then so majestic the Shannon came flowing,
That bee flew unchided the blossoms among,
The sky was serene, and the zephyrs soft blowing,
And oh! How enchanting the nightingale's song!

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Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 133

Am Ufer des Shannon
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Am Ufer des Shannon rief matt und in Leide
Ein armer Verliebter: "Wie träg' rinnt die Flut!
Sturm droht dort die Wolke, mein Dach ist die Weide,
Wie Blei drückt die Luft, und kein Hauch kühlt die Glut!
Geh! Biene, such Honig, wo Blumen dir schillern,
Hier sind keine Rosen, du lästiger Gast!
Still, Nachtigall! Still mit den klagenden Trillern,
Wie ist in der Seele dein Ton mir verhaβt!"
Doch sieh! Da naht schelmisch, mit lächelnder Wange
In blendender Schöne ein Mägdelein sich;
"O Ellen!" rief er, "wo bliebst du so lange,
Mein Herz, meine Ellen, wie bangt' ich um dich!"
Und feierlich rauschten vom Shannon die Wogen,
Gar selig das Summen der Biene erklang,
Am Himmel erglänzte ein Regenbogen
Und o! wie entzückend die Nachtigall sang!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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: 2005-12-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 127