En svane

Min hvide svane
du stumme, du stille,
hverken slag eller trille
lod sangrøst ane.

Angst beskyttende
alfen, som sover,
altid lyttende
gled du henover.

Men sidste mødet,
da eder og øjne
var lønlige løgne,
ja da, da lød det!

I toners føden
du slutted din bane.
Du sang i døden;
du var dog en svane!

by Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) , "En svane", 1871, from Digte

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

by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) , "En svane", op. 25 (Seks digt af Henrik Ibsen) no. 2 (1876), published 1876, also set in German

by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) , "Ein Schwan", op. 25 (Seks digt af Henrik Ibsen) no. 2 (1876), also set in Norwegian (Bokmål)

ITA Italian (Anna Maria Norberg-Schulz)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Ein Schwan

Mein Schwan, mein stiller,
Mit weissem Gefieder, 
Deine wonnigen Lieder
Verriet kein Triller.

Ängstlich sorgend
Des Elfen im Grunde, 
Glittst du horchend 
Allzeit in die Runde. 

Und doch bezwangst du 
Zuletzt mich beim Scheiden
Mit trügenden Eiden, 
Ja da, da sangst du!

Du schlossest singend 
Die irdische Bahn doch, 
Du starbst verklingend;
Du warst ein Schwan doch!

Singable translation by Wilhelm Henzen (1850-1910) , c1890

a text in Norwegian (Bokmål) by Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) , "En svane", 1871, from Digte ITA

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

by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) , "Ein Schwan", op. 25 (Seks digt af Henrik Ibsen) no. 2 (1876), also set in Norwegian (Bokmål)

ENG English (C. Ersel King)

Date added to the website: 2008-10-14.