Wasser trug das junge Mädchen,
Neigte sich zum Wasser nieder,
Sagte zu sich selbst die Worte:
"Armes Kind! Wie bist so schön du!
Hättest du ein grünes Kränzlein,
Wärst du, Arme, noch viel schöner!
Möchte wohl den Hirten lieben,
Constantin, den jungen Hirten,
Der dahergeht vor den Schafen,
Wie der Mond geht vor den Sternen!"
Text Authorship:
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):
- by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Armes Kind", op. 45 no. 6, published 1885 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Serbische Mädchenlieder, no. 6, Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alexander Winterberger (1834 - 1914), "Armes Kind", op. 52 no. 4, published 1881 [ vocal duet for 2 female voices with piano ], from Sieben Volkspoesien für 2 Frauenstimme mit Pianoforte. 2 Hefte, no. 4, Leipzig, Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Poor child", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Claus-Christian Schuster
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 55
The young maiden carried water,
Bent down toward the water,
Said these words to herself:
"Poor child! How very beautiful you are!
If you but had a green wreath,
You, poor one, would be even more beautiful!
You might then love the shepherd,
Constantin, the young shepherd,
Who strides before the sheep,
As the moon goes before the stars!"