by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
The return to Ulster
Language: English
Available translation(s): FRE
Once again, but how chang'd since my wanderings began I have heard the deep voice of the Lagan and Bann, And the pines of Clanbrasil resound to the roar That wearies the echoes of fair Tullamore. Alas! My poor bosom, and why shouldst thou burn! With the scenes of my youth can its raptures return? Can I live the dear life of delusion again, That flow'd when these echoes first mix'd with my strain? It was then that around me, though poor and unknown, High spells of mysterious enchantment were thrown; The streams were of silver, of diamond the dew, The land was an Eden, for fancy was new. I had heard of our bards, and my soul was on fire At the rush of their verse, and the sweep of their lyre: To me 'twas not legend, nor tale to the ear, But a vision of noontide, distinguish'd and clear. But was she, too, a phantom, the maid who stood by, And listed my lay, while she turn'd from mine eye? Was she, too, a vision, just glancing to view, Then dispers'd in the sunbeam, or melted to dew? Oh! Would it had been so, - O would that her eye Had been but a star-glance that shot through the sky, And her voice, that was moulded to melody's thrill Had been but a zephyr that sigh'd and was still.
Authorship:
- by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The Return to Ulster" [author's text not yet checked 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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "The return to Ulster", WoO. 152 (25 irische Lieder) no. 1, G. 223 no. 1 (1810/3) [ voice, violin, cello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le retour en Ulster", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Heimkehr nach Ulster"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 231
Heimkehr nach Ulster
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Wie anders als einst, da mein Wandern began, Traf mich wieder die Stimme von Lagan und Bann, Und die Felsen Clanbrasils begrüßten mein Ohr, Umrauscht von dem Echo von schön Tullamore. Ach, trauriges Herz! Und was solltest du glühn? Kann die Lust mit den Bildern der Jugend erblühn? Kann wieder so traumhaft mir lächeln die Welt Wie vordem, da mein Lied sich dem Echo gesellt? Da war's, wo mich Armen, von niemand gekannt, Ein Zauber geheimen Entzückens gebannt; Der Strom war von Silber, der Tau von Demant, Ein Eden das Land, weil ich jung noch empfand. Ich lausch't unsern Barden mit wallenden Blut, Wie rauschten die Harfen in lieblicher Glut! Kein Wunder erschien mir's, kein Märchen fürwahr, Nein, ein Traumbild um Mittag, vernehmlich und klar. Doch war Traum nur auch sie, die zur Seite mir stand, Die gelauscht meinem Lied und verschämt sich gewandt? War auch sie nur ein strahlendes Bildnis der Luft, Das im Mondschein verschwebt, das zerschmolzen in Duft? O dass ihre Stimme, so schmelzend von Ton, Nur ein Lüftchen gewesen. Das seufzend entflohn!
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Heimkehr nach Ulster" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The Return to Ulster"
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: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-10
Line count: 22
Word count: 176