The Crusader's Return

High deeds achieved of knightly fame,
From Palestine the champion came;
The cross upon his shoulders borne,
Battle and blast had dimm'd and torn.
Each dint upon his batter'd shield
Was token of a foughten field;
And thus, beneath his lady's bower,
He sung, as fell the twilight hour: -

"Joy to the fair! - thy knight behold,
Return'd from yonder land of gold;
No wealth he brings, nor wealth can need,
Save his good arms and battle-steed;
His spurs, to dash against a foe,
His lance and sword to lay him low;
Such all the trophies of his toil,
Such - and the hope of Tekla's smile!

"Joy to the fair! whose constant knight
Her favour fired to feats of might;
Unnoted shall she not remain,
Where meet the bright and noble train,
Minstrel shall sing and herald tell -
,,Mark yonder maid of beauty well,
'Tis she for whose bright eyes was won
The listed field of Askalon!

",,Note well her smile! - it edged the blade
Which fifty wives to widows made,
When, vain his strength and Mahound's spell,
Iconium's turban'd Soldan fell.
Seest thou her locks, whose sunny glow
Half shows, half shades, her neck of snow?
Twines not of them one golden thread,
But for its sake a Paynim bled.``

"Joy to the fair! - my name unknown,
Each deed, and all its praise thine own;
Then, oh, unbar this churlish gate,
The night dew falls, the hour is late.
Inured to Syria's glowing breath,
I feel the north breeze chill as death;
Let grateful love quell maiden shame,
And grant him bliss who brings thee fame."

by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) , "The Crusader's Return"

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 ]

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) , "Romanze des Richard Löwenherz", op. 86, D. 907 (1827).

Date added to the website: 2003-11-07.

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Romanze des Richard Löwenherz

Großer Taten tat der Ritter
Fern im heil'gen Lande viel;
Und das Kreuz auf seiner Schulter
Bleicht' im rauhen Schlachtgewühl,
Manche Narb' auf seinem Schilde
Trug er aus dem Kampfgefilde,
An der Dame Fenster dicht,
Sang er so im Mondenlicht:

Heil der Schönen! aus der Ferne
Ist der Ritter heimgekehrt,
Doch nichts durft' er mit sich nehmen,
Als sein treues Roß und Schwert.
Seine Lanze, seine Sporen 
Sind allein ihm unverloren,
Dies ist all sein irdisch Glück,
Dies und Theklas Liebesblick.

Heil der Schönen! was der Ritter tat,
Verdankt' er ihrer Gunst,
Darum soll ihr Lob verkünden
Stets des Sängers süße Kunst.
»Seht, da ist sie«, wird es heißen,
Wenn sie ihre Schöne preisen,
»Deren Augen Himmelsglanz
Gab bei Ascalon den Kranz.«

Schaut ihr Lächeln, eh'rne Männer
Streckt es leblos in den Staub,
Und Iconium, ob sein Sultan
Mutig stritt, ward ihm zum Raub.
Diese Locken, wie sie golden
Schwimmen um die Brust der Holden,
Legten manchem Muselmann
Fesseln unzerreißbar an.

Heil der Schönen, dir gehöret,
Holde, was dein Ritter tat,
Darum öffne ihm die Pforte,
Nachtwind streift, die Stunde naht;
Dort in Syriens heißen Zonen,
Mußt' er leicht des Nords entwohnen,
Lieb' ersticke nun die Scham,
Weil von ihm der Ruhm dir kam.

by Karl Ludwig Müller , no title

a text in English by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) , "The Crusader's Return"

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) , "Romanze des Richard Löwenherz", op. 86, D. 907 (1827).

DUT Dutch [singable] (Lau Kanen)

Date added to the website: 2003-11-07.