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Weit über das Feld durch die Lüfte hoch Nach Beute ein mächtiger Geier flog. Am Stromesrande im frischen Gras Eine junge weißflüglige Taube saß; O verstecke dich, Täubchen, im grünen Wald! Sonst verschlingt dich der lüsterne Geier bald! Eine Möwe hoch über der Wolga fliegt, Und Beute spähend im Kreis sich wiegt. O halte dich, Fischlein, im Wasser versteckt, Daß dich nicht die spähende Möwe entdeckt! Und steigst du hinauf, so steigt sie herab Und macht dich zur Beute und führt dich zum Grab. Ach, du grünende feuchte Erde du! Tu dich auf, leg mein stürmisches Herz zur Ruh'! Blaues Himmelstuch mit der Sternlein Zier, O trockne vom Auge die Träne mir! Hilf, Himmel, der armen, der duldenden Maid! Es bricht mir das Herz vor Weh und Leid!
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), first published 1842 [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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Lied", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge für Tenor oder Sopran mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1853), published 1854 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Lied", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Song", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfonso Sebastián) , "Canción", subtitle: "Del poema «Ivan»", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 128
Far above the field, high through the air, In search of prey a powerful vulture flew. By the edge of the river in the fresh grass A young white-winged dove sat; O hide yourself, little dove, in the green forest! Or the greedy bird will soon devour you! A seagull high over the Volga flies, And spying prey, circles and shakes itself. O keep yourself hidden in the water, little fish, That you not be discovered by the spying seagull! If you climb to the surface, then it will descend And make you its prey and lead you to the grave. Ah, you green, damp earth! Open and let my turbulent heart rest! Blue skycloth, studded with stars, O dry the tears from my eyes! Help, o heaven, this poor tolerant maiden! It breaks my heart from pain and sorrow!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), first published 1842
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 140