by Joseph Müller (1802 - 1872)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Das Veilchen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE ITA
Spende, Veilchen, deine Düfte 
zu Marias Preis und Ruhm, 
statt des Weihrauchs, statt der Myrrhen
bring'ich dich in's Heiligthum.

Eitler Prunk und bunt Geschmeide
sind nicht deiner Schönheit Zier,
in dem einfach blauen Kleide
prangst du edler als Saphir.

Stille blühst du und bescheiden
deiner Tugend unbewusst,
einsam willst du gerne wohnen 
aller Menschen Freud und Lust.

So auch blüthest du, Maria,
einsten als des Herren Braut,
Gott hat aller Welten Segen,
alle Himmel dir vertraut.

Keusche Jungfrau, Himmelspforte,
lass mich wie das Veilchen sein,
ohne Stolz und ohne Hoffart
stets bescheiden, keusch und rein.

Lass mich wie die blauen Blümchen
immer sanft sein, fromm und gut,
dir, Maria, stets zu Ehren
leben unter deiner Hut.

Note: one Liszt score has a typo in stanza 2, line 1, word 1 ("Eiller") and another typo in stanza 3, line 2, word 3 ("und bewusst")


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) , "The violet", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "The violet"
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La violette", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La violetta", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 116

The violet
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Bestow, violet, your scents
To Mary's glory and honour,
Rather than incense, rather than myrrh,
I shall take you into the Sanctuary.

Vain flamboyancy and colourful jewellery
Are not the ornaments of your beauty;
In your simple blue frock
You are more nobly resplendent than a sapphire.

You bloom quietly and modestly,
Unaware of your virtue,
You would gladly live in solitude
As the joy and delight of all mankind.

Thus you also bloomed, Mary,
Once as the bride of the Lord,
God has entrusted all the blessings of the world,
All the heavens to you.

Chaste virgin, gateway to heaven,
Let me be as the violet,
Without pride and without arrogance
Always modest, chaste and pure.

Let me, like the little blue flowers
Always be gentle, pious and good,
Always, Mary, to your glory
Live under your protection.

Text 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 139