Fluttering about the water-spring | Fluttering about the water-spring

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Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Freude

Language: German (Deutsch) after the German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE

Es flattert um die Quelle
Die wechselnde Libelle,
Mich freut sie lange schon:
Sie schwirrt und schwebet,
Und rastet nie, und rastet nie.
Bald dunkel... und bald helle,
wie der Chamäleon.
Bald rot, bald blau, bald grün.
o daß ich in der Nähe
doch ihre Farben sähe!
Doch stille! sie setzt sich an die Weiden.
Da hab' ich sie, und nun betracht' ich sie genau,
und seh' ein traurig dunkles Blau.

The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Freuden"
- Go to the text page.

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 Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Die Freude", op. 104 (3 Gedichte von Göthe, für 2 Soprane mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1844), published 1845 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], Hannover, Bachmann [sung text checked 1 time]

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L'alegria", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Fluttering about the water-spring", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les plaisirs", copyright © 2012, (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: 13
Word count: 71

Fluttering about the water‑spring

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Fluttering about the water-spring
Is the ever-changing dragonfly.
It has long been a source of joy for me.
It whirs and hovers
And never rests,
Now appearing dark, now appearing light,
Like the chameleon --
Now red, now blue, now green.
Oh, if I could only admire its colours up close!
But hush!  It is settling upon the willow!
Now I've got it!
And I examine it carefully
And see a sad, dreary blue.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Not Applicable [an adaptation]
- Go to the text page.

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Freuden"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2008-03-26
Line count: 13
Word count: 73