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Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal, Hell flammten die Kerzen im Pfeilersaal. Die Harfner sangen, es perlte der Wein, Die Könige schauten finster drein. Da sprach der eine: "Gib mir die Dirn'! Ihr Aug' ist blau, schneeweiss ihre Stirn." Der Andre versetzte in grimmem Zorn: "Mein ist sie und bleibt sie, ich hab's geschwor'n!" Kein Wort mehr sprachen die Könige drauf, Sie nahmen die Schwerter und stunden auf, Sie schritten hervor aus der leuchtenden Hall'; Tief lag der Schnee an des Schlosses Wall. Es sprühten die Fackeln, es blitzte der Stahl -- Zwei Könige sanken auf Orkadal.
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Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Zwei Könige", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lübeck und Bonn [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 Carl Georg Peter Grädener (1812 - 1883), "Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal", op. 18 no. 4, published 1857 [ low voice and piano ], from Herbstklänge. Sieben Lieder für tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920), "Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal", A. 20 (c1905-10), published 1910 [ low voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Victor von Herzfeld , "Zwei Könige", published 1879 [ voice and piano ], from Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Wien, Gutmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Zwei Könige", op. 10, published 1861 [ baritone and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Otto Lies (1869 - 1955), "Zwei Könige", op. 15 (Lieder und Balladen für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte), Heft 1 no. 1, published 1898 [ medium voice and piano ], Arnheim, Noske [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Wilhelm) Bernhard Molique (1802 - 1869), "Zwei Könige ", op. 38 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1850 [ voice and piano ], London : Ewer & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Ferdinand Würst (1824 - 1881), "Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal", op. 20 (Lieder und Gesänge), Heft 2 no. 3, published 1852 [ bass and piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Two kings sat together in Orkadal", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "Two kings sat at Orkadal", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-10-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 95
Two kings sat at Orkadal, Up flickered the candles in the great hall. The minstrels sang, to the sparkling wine, Yet the kings they both looked grim. One demanded: Hand over the lass! Here eyes so blue, lily-white her skin. The other threw back in grim outrage: She's mine and forever will be, as I have sworn! No further word was then exchanged, They drew their swords and rose, And strode out of the glowing hall; Deep was the snow on the castle's bulwark. Torches were flashing, as were the swords' blades. Two kings went down at Orkadal.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Linda Godry, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Zwei Könige", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lübeck und Bonn
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-01
Line count: 14
Word count: 98