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Die Lampen funkeln im Königsschloß, Es klingen die Flöten und Geigen; Des Königs schönes Töchterlein Tanzt drinnen den Hochzeitsreigen. Sie trägt im Haare den Myrtenkranz, Doch wandelt sie stumm und befangen; Sie trägt an der Brust die blühende Ros', Doch sind ihr so bleich die Wangen. Sie tanzt mit dem fremden Königssohn, Er geht in Purpur und Seide; Doch schöner, tausendmal schöner war Der Knab' im Pagenkleide. Am goldnen Tisch zwölf Jungfraun stehn, Den perlenden Wein zu kredenzen; Zwölf Pagen schwingen sich um das Paar Mit lodernden Fackeln und Kränzen. Urplötzlich löschen die Fackeln aus, Urplötzlich verstummen die Geigen; Der alte König fährt vom Sitz: "Sagt an, was soll dieß Schweigen?" "Herr König, nicht entbrenn' in Zorn, Wir dürfen nicht blasen und streichen; Der Meermann harft vor dem Schlosse dein, Dem Meermann müssen wir weichen." Und horch, empor vom Meere weht Ein süßes trauriges Schallen, Es schleicht so sacht durch die dämmernde Nacht Herein in die festlichen Hallen. Es schleicht so sacht in das Ohr der Braut; Ihr ist, als ob aus der Tiefe, Als ob aus der Tiefe mit Allgewalt Der liebste Buhle sie riefe. Ihr quellen die Augen, sie weiß nicht warum, Sie muß in Thränen zerfließen; Aus ihren Locken der Myrtenkranz Fällt welk zu ihren Füßen. Dem König rieselts durch Mark und Bein, Er fleucht entsetzt vor dem Schalle; Es eilt der fremde Königssohn Nach seinen Rossen im Stalle. Im Saale liegt die bleiche Braut, Ihr ist das Herz zersprungen; Der Morgen trüb in die Fenster graut, Des Meermanns Harf' ist verklungen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Juniuslieder, in Balladen und Erzählungen, in Balladen vom Pagen und der Königstochter, no. 4 [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 Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "Die Lampen funkeln im Königsschloss", op. 5 no. 4, published 1852 [ voice and piano ], from Vom Pagen und der Königstochter, Vier Balladen von E. Geibel, no. 4, Leipzig: Carl Merseburger [sung text checked 1 time]
- by C. E. (Charles Edward) Horn (1786 - 1849), "Die Lampen funkeln im Königsschloß", op. 1 no. 4, published 1890 [ voice and piano ], from Vom Pagen und der Königstochter. Vier Balladen von Geibel für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Wien, Rebay & Robitschek [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), adapted by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) [an adaptation] ; composed by Robert Schumann.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Les sales llueixen al castell reial", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-20
Line count: 44
Word count: 255
The lamps sparkle in the king's palace, Flutes and violins ring out; The king's beautiful daughter Is dancing her wedding dance in the palace. She is wearing the wreath of myrtles in her hair, But she goes about mute and constrained; Upon her breast she wears a blooming rose, But her cheeks, they are so pale. She is dancing with a foreign prince, He wears royal purple and silk; But more handsome, a thousand times more handsome was The lad in page's attire. At the golden table twelve maidens stand To serve the sparkling wine; Twelve pages circle around the bridal pair With flaming torches and wreaths. All of a sudden the torches flicker out, All of a sudden the violins are mute; The old king starts from his chair: "Tell me, what is the meaning of this silence?" "Lord King, do not enflame in rage, We cannot blow [our horns] or bow [our violins]; The merman is playing the harp before your palace, We must give way to the merman." And hark, up from the sea there wafts A sweet and sorrowful reverberation, It creeps so gently through the twilit night Into the festive halls [of the castle]. It creeps so gently into the ear of the bride; It seems to her, as if from the depths, As if from the depths with all-encompassing power Her dearest lover were calling her. Her eyes fill, she knows not why, She cannot help dissolving in tears; From out of her curls the myrtle wreath Falls wilted at her feet. The king shudders in his very marrow, He flees in horror from the sound; The foreign prince hastens To his horses in the stable. In the festive hall lies the pale bride, Her heart has burst; The morning light gloomily illumines the windows, The echoes of the merman's harp have faded away.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Juniuslieder, in Balladen und Erzählungen, in Balladen vom Pagen und der Königstochter, no. 4
This text was added to the website: 2011-03-03
Line count: 44
Word count: 310