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Es glänzt der Tulpenflor, durchschnitten von Alleen, Wo zwischen Taxus still die weißen Statuen stehen, Mit goldnen Kugeln spielt die Wasserkunst im Becken, Im Laube lauert Sphinx, anmutig zu erschrecken. Die schöne Chloe heut spazieret in dem Garten, Zur Seit' ein Kavalier, ihr höflich aufzuwarten, Und hinter ihnen leis Cupido kommt gezogen, Bald duckend sich im Grün, bald zielend mit dem Bogen. Es neigt der Kavalier sich in galantem Kosen, Mit ihrem Fächer schlägt sie manchmal nach dem Losen, Es rauscht der taftne Rock, es blitzen seine Schnallen, Dazwischen hört man oft ein art'ges Lachen schallen. Jetzt aber hebt vom Schloß, da sich's im West will röten, Die Spieluhr schmachtend an, ein Menuett zu flöten, Die Laube ist so still, er wirft sein Tuch zur Erde Und stürzet auf ein Knie mit zärtlicher Gebärde. "Wie wird mir, ach, ach, ach, es fängt schon an zu dunkeln-" "So angenehmer nur seh' ich zwei Sterne funkeln-" "Verwegner Kavalier!" - "Ha, Chloe, darf ich hoffen?" - Da schießt Cupido los und hat sie gut getroffen.
Authorship
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Sonst", appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen [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 Hans Erich Pfitzner (1869 - 1949), "Sonst", op. 15 no. 4 (1904). [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "As usual", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Autrefois", copyright © 2015, (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: 20
Word count: 172
Blossoming tulips shimmer, cut through by alleys, where white statues stand between the yews, elegant fountains play with golden spheres in their pools, and, in the arbour, Sphinx lurks, waiting to frighten charmingly. The fair Chloe strolls today in the garden, at her side a cavalier to wait upon her courteously, and behind them Cupid creeps quietly, now hiding in the greenery, now aiming his bow. The cavalier bows with gallant endearments, and with her fan she strikes the scoundrel a few times, her taffeta dress rustles, his buckles twinkle, and often a genteel laugh rings out between them. But now there rises from the château as the sun sets a yearning minuet singing from a music-box. The arbor is so quiet; he tosses his handkerchief to the ground and falls to his knees with a tender air. "How much I've - ah! it's beginning to grow dark-" "So much more delightfully now I can see two stars glittering-" "Audacious cavalier!" - "Ah, Chloe - may I hope?" Then Cupid lets loose and fires, and hits his targets perfectly.
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.
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Sonst", appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 180