Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Act 3: Walther's Prize Song

Walther Morning was gleaming in roseate pride,
While blossoms rare
Perfumed the air,
Full of all blisses
Past all wishes,
A garden drew me inside,
There 'neath a fruited wonder-tree,
With branches richly laden,
I gazed in love's sweet reverie
Upon my long-sought maiden,
Fulfilment graced mine eyes,
The fairest bride:
Eva in Paradise!
Masters Ah yes, I see! 'Tis another thing,
Whether wrong or right you sing.
People That is quite other, who would have thought!
What difference hath delivery brought!
Sachs Witness, the song: carry on!
Walther Evening descending enclosed me in the night;
On a steep grade,
My path I made,
Unto a wellspring,
Pure waves upwelling,
That laughed to me with delight;
There underneath a laurel-tree,
With starlight through its branches streaming,
In poet's waking dream did see
Her holy, gracious beaming,
Who laved me from a crystal glass,
The noblest maid:
The Muse of Mount Parnass!
Masters 'Tis bold and strange, that much is true;
Yet well-rhymed, and singable, too.
People So dear and close, yet far it soars!
As though we ourselves, therein explore!
Sachs Witness, well it goes; proceed to the close!
Walther Most gracious day,
Rousing me from poet's dreams once more!
What I had seen, that Paradise,
In heavenly new-transfigured splendour
Before me lay,
The spring laughingly revealed the path to prize:
To her, there once born,
My heart's truly sworn,
The Earth's most beauteous sight,
As Muse to me ordained,
So holy, gracious, right,
I boldly wooed and gained,
In sunlit glory shining,
Through song my triumph winning
Parnass and Paradise!
People Cradled as if in the most beauteous dream,
I hear it well, yet scarce can grasp its theme!
Masters Yea, gracious singer, take the wreath;
Such honour we bestow thy wondrous piece!
People Fair maiden, rise! Bestow the prize;
Never before was a wooing so wise!
Pogner Oh, Sachs! Thou bring'st me peace at last!
Now all my heart's distress is past!
Eva No one can woo so true, so graciously, as you.