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O rausche nur sanft und leise Du schattiger Eichenbaum, Daß du die arme Waise Nicht weckest aus ihrem Traum! Ihre Ältern sind schlafen gegangen Ins letzte Kämmerlein; Mit stummer Liebe Verlangen Ist sie auf Erden allein. Empor aus dem Todtenreiche Ihr alter Vater wallt; Der Traum verwandelt die Eiche In seine liebe Gestalt. Mit seinen Armen vertauschen Die Äste sich, streicheln das Kind; Als Wörtlein der Liebe rauschen Die grünen Blätter im Wind. Noch schlafend giebt sie ihm Antwort: "Ach, mache den Heinrich mir gut, Sonst nimm mich in's Todtenland fort, Weil so weh mein Herze mir thut!" Was knistert da? geht doch leiser, Sonst wird ihr Schlummer gestört. Heinrich schleicht über die Reiser; Der hat wol Alles gehört? Er beugt sich behutsam nieder Auf seinen köstlichen Fund Und drückt auf die Augenlieder [sic] Ihr sanft den glühenden Mund. "[O]1 Heinrich!" -- Rausche nur, Eiche! Sie schweigen stille vor Lust: Sind offen die Himmelreiche, [Versiegt ja das Wort]2 in der Brust.
Confirmed with Litthauische Volkslieder und Sagen bearbeitet von Wilhelm Jordan, Berlin: Verlag von Julius Springer, 1844, pages 19-20.
1 von Goethe: "Ach!"2 von Goethe: "Dann schweigt ja das Herz"
Text Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Jordan (1819 - 1904), "Der Schlaf unter der Eiche" [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 Walter von Goethe (1817 - 1885), "Der Schlaf unter der Eiche", op. 21 (Vier Gesänge) no. 2, published 1847 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Pietro Mechetti qm Carlo [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-02
Line count: 32
Word count: 162
Oh, only sough so gently and softly, You shady oak tree, So that you do not wake The poor orphan girl from her dream! Her parents have gone to sleep In the last little chamber; With the mute longing of love, She is alone upon earth. From out of the realm of the dead Her old father appears; Her dream transforms the oak Into his dear figure. The branches are changed into His arms, they caress the child; Like words of love is the rustling Of the green leaves in the wind. Still asleep, she answers him: "Ah, please make Heinrich fond of me, Or else take me away to the land of the dead, Because my heart aches so terribly!” What is rustling there? walk more quietly, Otherwise her slumber shall be disturbed. Heinrich is creeping over the twigs; He likely heard everything? Carefully he bends down over His precious find And upon her eyelids, he gently Presses his fervent lips. "[Oh]1 Heinrich!" -- Rustle, oak! They fall silent from sheer bliss: For when the heavenly realm is open Then the [words in one's bosom dry up.]2
1 von Goethe: "Ah!"
2 von Goethe: "heart in the bosom falls silent."
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm Jordan (1819 - 1904), "Der Schlaf unter der Eiche"
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-10
Line count: 32
Word count: 189