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

Das Mädchen und das Gras 
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Serbian (Српски) 
Einst schlief ein Mädchen ein, schlief ein im grünen Gras,
da nahm das Gras dem Mädchen die Wangenröth';
dem Gras das Mägdelein nahm seine grüne Farb'!
Als nun das Mädchen d'rauf wachte vom Schlafe auf,
da schalt es mit dem Gras, führt' es zum Richter hin:
"Gieb zurück, böses Gras, mir meine Wangenröth'!"
Antwortend nun das Gras spricht zu dem Mägdelein:
"Gieb mir die grüne Farb', die du mir heimlich nahmst,
dann geb' ich allsogleich dir deine Wangenröth'!"
Lange noch stritten sie, klagten sich beide an;
endlich vom Rath des Richters versöhnt, schieden sie!

Text Authorship:

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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):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in Czech (Čeština), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER ; composed by Antonín Dvořák.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English [singable] (Natalie Macfarren) , "The maiden and the grass"


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-01-15
Line count: 11
Word count: 94

The maiden and the grass
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Once fell a maid asleep, 'mid green midsummer grass,
but from her cheek the grass stole her rosy red;
she from the wavy grass took its pale hue of green!
When from her sleep she woke and saw what had befall'n,
Maiden in anger spoke, Grass to the Judge she took:
"Give back, thou evil Grass, my cheek its rosy red!"
Then to the railing maid Grass thus made answer bold:
"Give back my hue of green, that thou hast robb'd from me,
and straight I'll give to thee all thy cheek's rosy red!"
Wrangling full long and sore, thus did each implead;
until the Judge deem'd parting their only remede!

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: 2011-05-18
Line count: 11
Word count: 111