by Siegfried Kapper (1821 - 1879)
Translation Singable translation by Natalie Macfarren (1826 - 1916)

Kein Entrinnen
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Serbian (Српски) 
Watet ein Mägdelein, watet so eilig 
durch das kühle Wasser;
ihr Auge glänzt, roth ist die Wang', 
weiss sind ihre Füsse.
Hinter ihr zu Ross' ein Jüngling, 
der ihr lachend zuruft:
Wate eilig, liebes Mädchen,
mein wirst du doch werden!
Wenn ich nur wüsste, dass du mir bestimt bist,
du mein Herzgeliebter, waschen 
möcht' ich mich mit der Milch,
um schön weiss zu werden, 
Rosendüfte möcht' ich athmen,
um stets roth zu bleiben, 
und mit Seide mich umgürten,
um behend zu bleiben.

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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 [singable] (Natalie Macfarren) , "No escape"


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-01-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 82

No escape
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Yonder in haste, lo, a maiden is wading
through the dimpled water;
flush'd is her cheek, flashing her eye,
white her feet are gleaming.
Riding comes a youth behind her,
laughs and cries, persuing:
"Wade through the water, maiden dearest,
thou canst not escape me!"
Did I but know that for me thou art destin'd,
oh my heart's belov'd one,
with milk I'd wash me at dawn of day,
to be fair in thy sight,
I'd inhale the rose's odour,
that I might be fragrant,
softest silk should be my girdle,
that I thus might please thee.

From a Dvorak score.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2011-05-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 97