Ging eine Maid zum Weiher
In hauchigem Gewand
Und löste den dünnen Schleier
Mit weißer schmaler Hand.
Stand eine Maid am Wasser
Wie Birken rank und rein,
Ihr Leib war blütenblasser
Denn Maienblümelein.
Schwamm eine Maid in Wellen,
Ein seltener Fisch im Teich,
Die Hände zweien Kellen
Aus Alabaster gleich.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hellmut Draws-Tychsen Nordische Gedichte, Danzig: Danziger Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. (Paul Rosenberg), 1932, page 38.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "A little romance", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2022-09-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 50
A maiden went to the pond
In a gauzy garment
And loosened the thin veil
With her narrow white hand.
A maiden stood by the water’s edge
Like a birch tree lissom and pure,
Her body was more blossom-pale
Than May flowers.
A maid swam in the waves,
A rare fish in the pond,
Her hands were like
Two scoops made of alabaster.