"" or "" ("Rose on the Heath" or "Little Rose of the Field") is a poem by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as trea ...

, published in 1789. It was written in 1771 during Goethe's stay in Strasbourg when he was in love with

Friederike Brion Friederike Elisabeth BrionKarl Robert Mandelkow, Bodo Morawe: ''Goethes Briefe''. 2nd edition, vol. 1: ''Briefe der Jahre 1764–1786'' (Hamburg: Christian Wegner, 1968, p. 571. (probably 19 April 1752 – 3 April 1813) was a parson's d ...

, to whom the poem is addressed. The episode is the inspiration for

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; hu, Lehár Ferenc ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is ''The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life ...

's 1928 operetta ', which includes a setting of "" by Lehár. Goethes Schriften 8 1789 105

"" tells of a young man who sees a small rose in the meadow and decides to pluck it, despite the rose's warning that she will stick him with her thorn so he will not forget his transgression. Nevertheless, the "wild" boy "breaks" the rose, who must bear the pain with no recourse. The text could be interpreted as the boy overcoming a girl (the rose) by force; she does not consent to this violation but he does not heed her protests. She must suffer the consequences. There is a companion poem by Goethe, "

Das Veilchen "" ("The Violet"), K. 476, is a song for voice and piano by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written in Vienna on 8 June 1785, to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Lyrics Goethe wrote the poem in 1773 or early 1774. It was first published in March 1 ...

", in which the man is represented by a violet.

Text

Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn, Röslein auf der Heiden, War so jung und morgenschön, Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn, Sah's mit vielen Freuden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Knabe sprach: "Ich breche dich, Röslein auf der Heiden." Röslein sprach: "Ich steche dich, Dass du ewig denkst an mich, Und ich will's nicht leiden." Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Und der wilde Knabe brach 's Röslein auf der Heiden; Röslein wehrte sich und stach, Half ihr"ihm" in Schubert's composition doch kein Weh und Ach, Musste"musst" in Schubert's composition es eben leiden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Literal translation A boy saw a little rose standing, Little rose on the heath, Was so young and morning-pretty, He ran quickly to see it near, Saw it with much joy, Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. Boy said: "I'll break you, Little rose on the heath." Little rose said: "I'll prick you, That you forever think of me, And I'll not want to suffer it." Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. And the wild boy broke The little rose on the heath; Little rose defended herself and pricked, Saved her though no pain or woe, Had to suffer it anyway. Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. Bowring translation Once a boy a Rosebud spied, Heathrose fair and tender, All array'd in youthful pride,– Quickly to the spot he hied, Ravished by her splendour. Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender! Said the boy, "I'll now pick thee, Heathrose fair and tender!" Said the rosebud, "I'll prick thee, So that thou'lt remember me, Ne'er will I surrender!" Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender! Now the cruel boy must pick Heathrose fair and tender; Rosebud did her best to prick,– Vain 'twas 'gainst her fate to kick– She must needs surrender. Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender!, citing a translation by

Edgar Alfred Bowring Edgar Alfred Bowring (; 26 May 1826 – August 1911) was a British translator, author and civil servant, serving as librarian and registrar to the Board of Trade (1848–1863), secretary to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and Lib ...

from 1853

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It has been set to music by a number of composers, most notably in 1815 by

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

as his D. 257. Schubert's setting is partially based on Pamina's and Papageno's duet "" from the end of act 1 of Mozart's ''

The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that inclu ...

''. The 1829 setting by Heinrich Werner (below) became a popular folk song. \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' \addlyrics >>

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Peter Schreier Peter Schreier (29 July 1935 – 25 December 2019) was a German tenor in opera, concert and lied, and a conductor. He was regarded as one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century. Schreier was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor conduct ...

Rudolf Buchbinder Rudolf Buchbinder (born 1 December 1946, Litoměřice, Czechoslovakia) is an Austrian classical pianist. Biography Buchbinder studied with Bruno Seidlhofer at the Vienna Academy of Music. In 1965, he made a tour of North and South Americas. In 1 ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heidenroslein Poetry by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Lieder composed by Franz Schubert 1771 poems 1815 songs Musical settings of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Volkslied