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Merlin Der Wilde

i Another possible translation would be "forest delight" or "delight in the forest."

ii lit. bosom.

iii [ ] signify expressions moved from another line for grammar's sake; ( ) signify supplements by the translator.

iv lit. blossoms.

v lit. a green path far.

vi lit. Here in the wilderness rules / Him the feeling that comes with new strength.

vii Ger. Wild are the 'wild animals;' the word connects them with 'Merlin der Wilde.'

viii Ger. düster is usually an adjective which Uhland has verbalized here. It is a negative choice of words that suggests that something bad has happened "wo die Linden düster"; düster means dark, but its connotations are gloomy and sinister.

ix lit. For you they are sung by the birds' throats.

x Ger. Gesinde literally means the house servants; however, I suggets that Uhland meant courtiers and merely chose the word Hofgesind' for rhyme's sake.

Merlin Der Wilde

by: Ludwig Uhland (Author) , Nicole Dentzien (Translator)

from: Poems of Ludwig Uhland (Pp. 364 - 368) 1848


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Merlin der Wilde An Karl Mayer Du sendest, Freund, mir Lieder Voll frischer Waldeslust, Du regest gerne wieder Auch mir die Dichterbrust; Du zeigst an schatt'ger Halde Mir den beschilften See, Du lockest aus dem Walde Zum Bad ein scheues Reh. Ob einem alten Buche Bring' ich die Stunden hin, Doch fürchte nicht, ich suche Mir trockne Blüten drin! Durch seine Zeilen windet Ein grüner Pfad sich weit Ins Feld hinaus und schwindet In Waldeseinsamkeit. Da sitzt Merlin der Wilde Am See auf moos'gem Stein Und starrt nach seinem Bilde Im dunklen Widerschein; Er sieht, wie er gealtet Im trüben Weltgewühl: Hier in der Wildnis waltet Ihm neuer Kraft Gefühl. Vom Grün, das um ihn tauet, Ist ihm der Blick gestärkt, Daß er Vergang'nes schauet Und Künftiges ermerkt; Der Wald in nächt'ger Stunde Hat um sein Ohr gerauscht, Daß es in seinem Grunde Den Geist der Welt erlauscht. Das Wild, das um ihn weilet, Dem stillen Gaste zahm, Es schrickt empor, enteilet, Weil es ein Horn vernahm. Von raschem Jägertrosse Wird er hinweggeführt Fern zu des Königs Schlosse, Der längst nach ihm gespürt. "Gesegnet sei der Morgen, Der dich ins Haus mir bringt, Den Mann, der, uns verborgen, Den Tieren Weisheit singt! Wohl möchten wir erfahren, Was jene Sprüche wert, Die dich seit manchen Jahren Der Waldesschatten lehrt. "Nicht um den Lauf der Sterne Heb' ich zu fragen an: Am Kleinen prüft' ich gerne, Wie es um dich gethan. Du kommst in dieser Frühe Mir ein Geruf'ner her; Du lösest ohne Mühe, Wovon das Haupt mir schwer: Dort, wo die Linden düstern, Vernahm ich letzte Nacht Ein Plaudern und ein Flüstern, Wie wenn die Liebe wacht. Die Stimmen zu erkunden, Lauscht' ich hinab vom Wall, Doch, wähnt' ich sie gefunden, So schlug die Nachtigall. Nun frag' ich Dich, o Meister, Wer bei den Linden war: Dir machen Deine Geister Geheimes offenbar, Dir singt's der Vögel Kehle, Die Blätter säuseln's dir. Sprich ohne Scheu, verhehle Nichts, was du schauest, mir!" Der König steht umgeben Von seinem Hofgesind'; Zu Morgen grüßt' ihn eben Sein rosenblühend Kind. Merlin, der unerschrocken Den Kreis gemustert hat, Nimmt aus der Jungfrau Locken Ein zartes Lindenblatt: "Laß mich dies Blatt dir reichen, Lies, Herr, was es dir sagt! Wem nicht an solchen Zeichen Genug, der sei befragt, Ob er in Königshallen Je Blätter regnen sah; Wo Lindenblätter fallen, Da ist die Linde nah'. "Du hast, o Herr, am Kleinen Mein Wissen heut' erprobt; Mög' es dir so erscheinen, Daß man mich billig lobt! Löst' ich aus einem Laube Dein Rätsel Dir so bald, Viel größ're löst, das glaube, Der dichtbelaubte Wald." Der König steht und schweiget, Die Tochter glüht vor Scham. Der stolze Seher steiget Hinab, von wo er kam. Ein Hirsch, den wohl er kennet, Harrt vor der Brücke sein Und nimmt ihn auf und rennet Durch Feld und Strom waldein. Versunken lag im Moose Merlin, doch tönte lang' Aus einer Waldkluft Schoße Noch seiner Stimme Klang. Auch dort ist längst nun Friede; Ich aber zweifle nicht, Daß, Freund, aus deinem Liede Merlin der Wilde spricht.	Merlin the Wild Man To Karl Mayer Friend, you send me lyrics Full of fresh forest love, i You like to stir once again My own poet's heart; ii You show [me] iii in shadowy grove The reed-fringed lake, You lure from the forest A shy doe for a bath. With an old book I pass the hours, But never fear, I am searching But for dried flowers iv inside! Through its lines meanders A green long path v Out into the field and disappears In the loneliness of the forest. There sits Merlin the Wild Man By the lake on a mossy stone And stares at his picture In the dark reflection; He sees how he has aged In the murky throng of the world: Here in the wilderness comes The feeling of new strength to him. vi By the green(ness) that thaws round him, His gaze is strengthened, So that he sees things of the past And realizes future happenings; The forest, at a nightly hour Has rustled around his ear So that at its bottom It hears the spirit of the world. The game that tarries about him, vii Tame to the silent guest It is scared up, flees, Because it heard a horn. By an urgent hunters' troop Is he led away Far to the king's castle Who has been searching for him long. "Blessed be the morning That brings you to my house, The man who, hidden from us, Sings wisdom to the animals! Well would we like to know How much those words (are) worth, That for many years The forest's shadow has been teaching you. "Not about the course of the stars Do I begin to ask: In small things do I like to verify How it is with you. You come at this early hour To me as one called for; You shall solve without trouble That which makes my head heavy. There, where the linden trees darken viii I heard last night Talking and whispering, As if love were wakeful. To explore the voices I listened down(ward) from the wall, But when I thought them found, The nightingale sang. Now I am asking you, o master, Who was by the linden trees: Your spirits make Secrets known [to you], For you the birds sing them, ix The leaves whisper them to you. Speak without restraint, do not keep [From me] anything of that which you see." The king stands surrounded By his courtiers; x A morning greeting offers him just then His rose-blooming child. Merlin, who has fearlessly Considered the circle, Takes from the virgin's curls A tender linden leaf. "Let me hand you this leaf, Read, lord, what it tells you! Who(ever) is [not satisfied] with such sign Should be asked Whether, in royal halls, he Ever saw it raining leaves; Where linden leaves fall The linden tree is (usually) near. "You have, o lord, in small things Tested my knowledge today; It may seem to you As if I were cheaply praised! If I solved from a leaf Your puzzle so soon, Many larger ones solves, believe me, The many-leafed forest The king stands and is silent, The daughter burns with shame. The proud seer descends To where he came from. A stag, whom he seems to knows, Awaits him by the bridge, And takes him up, and runs Across field and river into the forest. Sunken in the moss lay Merlin, but for a long time sounded From the bottom of a forest breach Still the sound of his voice. There, too, is peace long since, But I do not doubt, That, friend, from your song Speaks Merlin the Wild Man.