by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

[V]. Biterolf und der Schmied von Ruhla
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Thüringens Wälder senden
Den Weidmann und den Schmied,
Brauthuldigung zu spenden
Mit Gaben und mit Lied.

(zur Braut:)1
Vor hohem Frauenbilde
So tugendlicher Art
Singt Ruhlas Grobschmied milde:
"Jung Landgraf [werde]2 zart!"

(zum Erbgroßherzog:)1
Doch will's im Westen dämmern
Und streicht ein Feind den Bart,
Herr Major, dann wollen wir hämmern:
"Jung Landgraf, werdet hart!"

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Liszt 

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with "Der Brautwillkomm auf Wartburg", Fünf Dichtungen von Joseph Viktor von Scheffel, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1887, pages 33-34. Under the poem are the following words: "(Sie bringen als Vertreter des Thüringer Waldes Huldigungsgaben der Ruhlaer Industrie dar.)", which can be translated "(As representatives of the Forest of Thuringia they offer up gifts of homage from the industry of Ruhla.)"

1 omitted by Liszt.
2 Liszt: "werdet"

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) , "Biterolf and the Blacksmith of Ruhla", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 58

Biterolf and the Blacksmith of Ruhla
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Thuringia's forests send
The huntsman and the blacksmith,
To bring adulation to the bride
With gifts and with song.

(to the bride:)
Before a lofty image of a woman
Of such a virtuous nature
Gently sings the coarse blacksmith of Ruhla:
"Young landgrave, become amorous!"

(to the Archduke:)
But if certain signs arise in the west
And if the enemy strokes his beard,
Lord Major, then we shall hammer out:
"Young landgrave, steel yourself [for battle]!"

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: 14
Word count: 76