Overview
Introduction
"Ellens dritter Gesang" ("Ellens Gesang III", D. 839, Op. 52, No. 6, 1825), in English: "Ellen's Third Song", was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Opus 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.
It has become one of Schubert's most popular works, recorded by a wide variety and large number of singers, under the title of "Ave Maria", in arrangements with various lyrics which commonly differ from the original context of the poem. It was arranged in three versions for piano by Franz Liszt.
The Lady of the Lake and the "Ave Maria"
The piece was composed as a setting of a song (verse XXIX from Canto Third) from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, in a German translation by Adam Storck (1780–1822), and thus forms part of Schubert's Liederzyklus vom Fräulein vom See. In Scott's poem the character Ellen Douglas, the Lady of the Lake (Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands), has gone with her exiled father to stay in the Goblin's cave as he has declined to join their previous host, Roderick Dhu, in rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chieftain of Clan Alpine, sets off up the mountain with his warriors, but lingers and hears the distant sound of the harpist Allan-bane, accompanying Ellen who sings a prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, calling upon her for help. Roderick Dhu pauses, then goes on to battle.[4]
Schubert's arrangement is said to have first been performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in the little Austrian town of Steyregg and dedicated to her, which led to her becoming known as "the lady of the lake" herself.
The opening words and refrain of Ellen's song, namely "Ave Maria" (Latin for "Hail Mary"), may have led to the idea of adapting Schubert's melody as a setting for the full text of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer "Ave Maria". The Latin version of the "Ave Maria" is now so frequently used with Schubert's melody that it has led to the misconception that he originally wrote the melody as a setting for the "Ave Maria".
Lyrics
英文：
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thy, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
拉丁文：
Ave maria gratia plena Maria gratia plena Maria gratia plena Ave, ave dominus Dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus Et benedictus frutus ventris Ventris tui jesus Ave maria Ave maria mater dei Ora pro nobis pecatoribus Ora, ora pro nobis Ora ora pro nobis pecatoribus Nunc et in hora mortis In hora mortis nostrae In hora mortis, mortis nostrae In hora mortis nostrae Ave maria
中文歌词
啊 圣玛利亚
温柔的母亲
请你听一回少女恳求
在这荒凉的岩石上
我的控诉飞向你的身旁
我睡到明天早晨醒来
而人们仍然是这样残忍
啊 圣母 请将女儿指引
啊 母亲 我是个可怜的人
圣洁的母亲
当我们在岩石上沉睡
有你来保护我们
硬的岩石也会变得柔软
在梦里我看见你微笑
我仿佛闻到玫瑰芳香
啊 圣母 我要向你倾诉
我一片赤诚的少女的心
纯洁的母亲
世上的一切鬼怪妖精
纷纷逃走无踪影
我们再也不会受到欺凌
因为你对我们最关心
我们都得到你的爱情
啊 圣母 我虔诚的恳请
啊 母亲 愿你永爱我们
