Songs
Ritter Toggenburg
(1816)
D397
Ritter Toggenburg
„Ritter, treue SchwesterliebeWidmet euch dies Herz,Fordert keine andre Liebe,Denn es macht mir Schmerz.Ruhig mag ich euch erscheinen,Ruhig gehen sehn;Eurer Augen stilles WeinenKann ich nicht verstehn.“Und er hört’s mit stummem Harme,Reisst sich blutend los,Presst sie heftig in die Arme,Schwingt sich auf sein Ross,Schickt zu seinen Mannen allenIn dem Lande Schweiz;Nach dem heil’gen Grab sie wallen,Auf der Brust das Kreuz.Grosse Taten dort geschehenDurch der Helden Arm,Ihres Helmes Büsche wehenIn der Feinde Schwarm,Und des Toggenburgers NameSchreckt den Muselmann,Doch das Herz von seinem GrameNicht genesen kann.Und ein Jahr hat er’s ertragen,Trägt’s nicht länger mehr,Ruhe kann er nicht erjagenUnd verlässt das Heer,Sieht ein Schiff an Joppes Strande,Das die Segel bläht,Schiffet heim zum teuren Lande,Wo ihr Atem weht.Und an ihres Schlosses PforteKlopft der Pilger an,Ach! und mit dem DonnerworteWird sie aufgetan:„Die ihr suchet, trägt den Schleier,Ist des Himmels Braut,Gestern war des Tages Feier,Der sie Gott getraut.“Da verlässet er auf immerSeiner Väter Schloss,Seine Waffen sieht er nimmer,Noch sein treues Ross,Von der Toggenburg herniederSteigt er unbekannt,Denn es deckt die edeln GliederHärenes Gewand.Und erbaut sich eine HütteJener Gegend nah,Wo das Kloster aus der MitteDüstrer Linden sah;Harrend von des Morgens LichteBis zu Abends Schein,Stille Hoffnung im Gesichte,Sass er da allein.Blickte nach dem Kloster drüben,Blickte stundenlangNach dem Fenster seiner Lieben,Bis das Fenster klang,Bis die Liebliche sich zeigte,Bis das teure BildSich ins Tal herunter neigte,Ruhig, engelmild.Und dann legt’ er froh sich nieder,Schlief getröstet ein,Still sich freuend, wenn es wiederMorgen würde sein.Und so sass er viele Tage,Sass viel Jahre lang,Harrend ohne Schmerz und KlageBis das Fenster klang.Bis die Liebliche sich zeigte,Bis das teure BildSich ins Tal herunter neigte,Ruhig, engelmild,Und so sass er, eine Leiche,Eines Morgens da,Nach dem Fenster noch das bleicheStille Antlitz sah.
The Knight of Toggenburg
‘Knight, this heart dedicates to youtrue sisterly love;demand no other love,for that grieves me.Calmly I should like to see you appearand leave again.I cannot understandthe silent tears in your eyes.’And he listened with silent sorrowtore himself away in anguish,pressed her violently in his arms,jumped on his horseand sent word to all his menin the country of Switzerland.They made a pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre,the cross on their breasts.Great deeds were accomplished thereby the heroes’ might;the plumes on their helmetsfluttered amid the teeming foe,and the name of Toggenburgterrified the Mussulman,but his heart could not be curedof its grief.When he had endured it for one yearhe could endure it no longer;he could gain no peace,and left his army.He saw a ship on the shore at Joppa,its sails billowing,and sailed home to the beloved landwhere she breathed.And the pilgrim knockedat the gate of her castle.Alas, it was openedwith these shattering words:‘She whom you seek wears the veil;she is a bride of heaven.Yesterday was the day of the ceremonythat wedded her to God.’Thereupon he leftthe castle of his fathers for ever.He never again saw his weaponsor his trusty steed.He descended from Toggenburgunrecognized,for a hair shirtcovered his noble limbs.And he built himself a hutnear to the placewhere the convent looked outfrom amid sombre linden trees;waiting from the light of dawnto the glow of eveningwith silent hope on his face,he sat there alone.He gazed across at the convent –gazed for hours on endat his beloved’s window,until the window rattled,until his sweetheart appeared;until her dear formbent down towards the valley,tranquil and as gentle as an angel.And then he lay down happilyand fell asleep, comforted,silently looking forward to whenit would be morning again.Thus he sat for many days,for many long years,waiting without sorrow or complaintuntil the window rattled.Until his sweetheart appeared,until her dear formbent down towards the valley,tranquil and as gentle as an angel.And thus he sat there one morning,a corpse,his pale, silent facestill gazing at the window.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
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Composer
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.
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Poet
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision.
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Ritter Toggenburg
The Knight of Toggenburg
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.
Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.
See Full Entry
Poet
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
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