The Elfin Fairies (Thomson, set by L. Beethoven) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


We fairy elves in secret dells,
All day contrive our magic spells,
Till sable night o'ercast the sky,
And trough the airy regions fly,
By Cynthia's light so clear:
Around the earth ere dawn of day,
On high we win our easy way;
Sometimes the lawns to earth inviting,
On the velvet turf alighting;
So light, so light,
So light o'er pliant stalks we fleet,
The blade scarce bends beneath our feet,
But shakes as if for fear.

Refrain
So light, so light,
So light o'er pliant stalks we fleet,
The blade scarce bends beneath our feet,
But shakes as if for fear.

And if no bus'ness calls from home
Around the wheeling globe to roam;
We to some flow'ry meadow stray,
And sing and dance the night away,
Around our Fairy Queen.
Then we our mushroom board prepare,
The gather'd sweets of flow'rs our fare,
The dewy nectar round distilling,
All our hairbell goblets filling;
Good night, good night:
Good night we say, then sink to rest
Upon some lily's downy breast,
By mortal eyes unseen.

Refrain
Good night, good night:
Good night we say, then sink to rest
Upon some lily's downy breast,
By mortal eyes unseen.

Input by Ferdinando Albeggiani

Authorship

David Thomson

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

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

12 Irische Lieder

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

GER

German

Date added to the website: 2005-09-18.

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