by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939)
Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: FRE
Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus, Er trinkt den letzten Becher aus. An seine Schulter lehnt Sein Weib und stöhnt - Der Henker steht vor der Türe. Der Reigen beginnt, und Herr Olaf erfaßt Sein junges Weib, und mit wilder Hast Sie tanzen, bei Fackelglanz, Den letzten Tanz - Der Henker steht vor der Türe. Die Geigen geben so lustigen Klang, Die Flöten seufzen so traurig und bang! Wer die beiden tanzen sieht, Dem erbebt das Gemüt Der Henker steht vor der Türe. Und wie sie tanzen, im dröhnenden Saal, Herr Olaf flüstert zu seinem Gemahl: "Du weißt nicht, wie lieb ich dich hab - So kalt ist das Grab --" Der Henker steht vor der Türe.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Neue Gedichte, Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 184
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Romanzen, in 10. Ritter Olaf, no. 2 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Sigizmund Mikhailovich Blumenfel'd (1852 - 1920), "Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus", op. 9 no. 2, published 1896 [ baritone and piano ], from Ritter Olaf, no. 2, Leipzig, Belaieff [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Braun (1868 - ?), "Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus", op. 2 no. 2, published 188-? [ tenor, bass, chorus, and orchestra ], from Ritter Olaf, no. 2, also set in English [sung text not yet checked]
- by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913), "Ritter Olaf", op. 19 no. 2 (1882), published 1882 [ baritone or mezzo-soprano with piano ], from Ritter Olaf, no. 2, Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Don Forsythe (1932 - 2015), "Ritter Olaf II", 2008, published c2008 [ high voice and piano ], from Romanzen, no. 10b [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Nicola (1797 - 1875), "Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus", op. 17 (Ritter Olaf : Ballade von Heine) no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Ferdinand Riccius (1819 - 1886), "Die Hochzeit", op. 4 (Ritter Olaf = Herr Olaf : Ballade in drei Abteilungen von H. Heine) no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eugen Schmitz (1882 - 1959), "Herr Olaf sitzt beim Hochzeitschmaus", op. 4 (Herr Olaf : Ballade ) no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Edward Breck (1861 - 1929) and by Francis Prange ; composed by Charles Braun.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Also set in Ukrainian (Українська), a translation by M. Zirek ; composed by Dmytro Lvovych Klebanov.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Alma Strettell) , "Lord Olaf II", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 216-217, first published 1887
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-05-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 113
Lord Olaf II
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The wedding feast is well nigh o'er,
Lord Olaf drains the cup once more;
Moaning upon his breast
His wife doth rest --
And the headsman waits below,
The dance begins -- Lord Olaf now
Clasps his young bride: by torches' glow,
Wildly they dance and fast
This dance -- their last --
And the headsman waits below.
The viols echo merrily,
The flutes send forth a wailing sigh;
But, as these two draw near,
Men shrink with fear --
And the headsman waits below.
As through the reeling halls they move,
He whispers to his bride, "My love
For thee is all untold;
The grave is cold -- !"
And the headsman waits below.
Text Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), "Lord Olaf II", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 216-217, first published 1887 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Romanzen, in 10. Ritter Olaf, no. 2
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: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-12-15
Line count: 20
Word count: 109