Merch Megan

In the white cot where Peggy dwells,
Her daughter fair the rose excels
That round her casement sweetly blows,
And on the gale its fragrance throws.
O were she mine, the lovely maid!
She soon would leave the lonely shade.

I'd bear her where the beams of morn
Should with their brightest rays adorn
Each budding charm and op'ning grace,
That moulds her form and decks her face.
O were she mine, the lovely maid!
I'd bear her from the lonely shade.

But, should the sultry orb of day
Too fiercely dart his fervid ray,
The rose upon its stalk might die,
And zephyr o'er its ruins sigh!
No -- I would keep my lovely maid
Secure beneath the friendly shade.

by Anne Hunter (1742-1821)

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) , "Merch Megan", alternate title: "Peggy's Daughter", WoO. 155 (26 Walisische Lieder) no. 11, G. 226 no. 11, published 1810/2. [voice, piano, violin, violoncello]

GER German [singable] (G. Pertz)
FRE French (Isabelle Cecchini)

Date added to the website: 2005-08-14.

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Peggy's Tochter

 Im kleinen Haus, wo Peggy wohnt,
 ihr holdes Kind, die Rose thront,
 die rings verbreitend süssen Duft,
 mit Balsam würzt die Morgenluft.
 O wäre mein das holde Kind,
 dem Schatten raubt'ich Sie geschwind!

 Ich böte Sie dem Morgenschein,
 Der all' sein Gold lhr
 sollte weih'n;
 Der all' den holden
 Liebreiz weckt',
 Der tief im Kelche schläft versteckt.
 O wäre mein das holde Kind,
 Dem Schatten raubt'ich Sie geschwind!

 Doch träf der schwüle Sonnenstrahl
 Zu heiss und senkrecht Sie einmal;
 Leicht welkte da am Stengel sacht,
 Vom Wind umseufzt, der Rose Pracht.
 Nein, blühen sollt' Sie fort und fort
 An einsam sichern,
 schatt'gen Ort.

Singable translation by G. Pertz , "Peggy's Tochter"

a text in English by Anne Hunter (1742-1821) FRE

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 ]

Date added to the website: 2005-01-18.