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Im Mondenschein, in der Waldesnacht, Da sitzt am Borne die Fee; Läßt flattern im Winde des Haares Pracht, Und zieht den Odem leis und sacht, Und lauscht, und lauscht, und harret still, Ob Keiner sie erlösen will Von ihrem Liebesweh. O Jäger, o Jäger! hab' Acht, hab' Acht, Tritt leis mit dem Hündlein herzu! Schon läßt sie funkeln die Augen mit Macht! Hat ein Mal sie dich angelacht, Kein Kraut im Walde mag heilen dich, Weh! hier und dort ist's ewiglich Geschehn um deine Ruh! O Jäger, o Jäger! stoß frisch in's Horn, Daß jäh sie erschrickt und erblaßt, Und wieder sich birgt im tiefen Born, Gehst sonst an Leib und Seel verlorn! -- Dank Gott, dank Gott! sie ist entflohn! Dank Gott, dank Gott mit hellem Ton, Daß sie dich nicht erfaßt!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 375-376.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Waldfee", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 400 [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 Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Die Waldfee", op. 54 (Im Freien zu singen. Zehn Chor-Duette für Sopran- und Altstimme (5. Folge) ohne Begleitung, zum Gebrauch in höheren Töchterschulen und Gesangvereinen) no. 7, published 1881 [ sa chorus ], Leipzig: Fr. Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jakob Eduard Schmölzer (1812 - 1886), "Die Waldfee", op. 209 (Fünf Lieder für Männerchor) no. 5, published 1878 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig: C.F.W. Siegel [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Todt (1833 - 1900) [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Die Waldfee", op. 46 (Zwei Gesänge für S., A., T. und B.) no. 2, published 1886 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The forest fairy", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-03-25
Line count: 21
Word count: 133
In the moonlight, in the forest night, There the fairy sits at the well-spring; She lets the splendour of her hair flutter in the wind, And draws breath quietly and gently, And listens, and listens, and waits quietly, Whether anyone wishes to deliver her From her lovelorn state. Oh huntsman, oh huntsman! take care, take care, Approach quietly with your little dog! Already she is letting her eyes sparkle mightily! If once she smiles at you, No herb of the forest can heal you, Woe! here and beyond, your peace Would be eternally destroyed! Oh huntsman, oh huntsman! blow your horn briskly, So that she is abruptly startled and grows pale, And conceals herself once more in the well-spring, Otherwise you are lost, body and soul! -- Thank God, thank God! she has flown! Thank God, thank God with a bright sound, That she did not seize you!
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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Waldfee", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 400
This text was added to the website: 2025-03-26
Line count: 21
Word count: 148