by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Sonnenuntergang
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): FRE
Die glühend rote Sonne steigt Hinab ins weitaufschauernde, Silbergraue Weltenmeer; Luftgebilde, rosig angehaucht, Wallen ihr nach; und gegenüber, Aus herbstlich dämmernden Wolkenschleiern, Ein traurig todblasses Antlitz, Bricht hervor der Mond, Und hinter ihm, Lichtfünkchen, Nebelweit, schimmern die Sterne. Einst am Himmel glänzten, Ehlich vereint, Luna, die Göttin, und Sol, der Gott, Und es wimmelten um sie her die Sterne, Die kleinen, unschuldigen Kinder. Doch böse Zungen zischelten Zwiespalt, Und es trennte sich feindlich Das hohe, leuchtende Ehpaar. Jetzt am Tage, in einsamer Pracht, Ergeht sich dort oben der Sonnengott, Ob seiner Herrlichkeit Angebetet und vielbesungen Von stolzen, glückgehärten Menschen. Aber des Nachts, Am Himmel, wandelt Luna, Die arme Mutter, Mit ihren verwaisten Sternenkindern, Und sie glänzt in stiller Wehmut. Und liebende Mädchen und sanfte Dichter Weihen ihr Tränen und Lieder. Die weiche Luna! Weiblich gesinnt, Liebt sie noch immer den schönen Gemahl. Gegen Abend, zitternd und bleich, Lauscht sie hervor aus leichtem Gewölk, Und schaut nach dem Scheidenden, schmerzlich, Und möchte ihn ängstlich rufen: "Komm! Komm! die Kinder verlangen nach dir -" Aber der trotzige Sonnengott, Bei dem Anblick der Gattin erglüht er In doppeltem Purpur, Vor Zorn und Schmerz, Und unerbittlich eilt er hinab In sein flutenkaltes Witwerbett. **** Böse, zischelnde Zungen Brachten also Verderben Selbst über ewige Götter. Und die armen Götter, oben am Himmel Wandeln sie, qualvoll, Trostlos unendliche Bahnen, Und können nicht sterben, Und schleppen mit sich Ihr strahlendes Elend. Ich aber, der Mensch, Der niedriggepflanzte, der Tod-beglückte, Ich klage nicht länger.
S. Lange sets stanza 1-4, 6-7
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Sonnenuntergang", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Nordsee, in Erster Zyklus, no. 3, first published 1825-6 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Leslie Crabtree (b. 1941), "Sonnenuntergang", published 2004 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Samuel de Lange (1840 - 1911), "Sonnenuntergang", op. 87 (Die Nordsee : vier Gesänge) no. 2, published 190-?, stanza 1-4,6-7 [ baritone and orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , "Sunset", appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Coucher de soleil", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-02-16
Line count: 56
Word count: 246
Sunset
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The glowing red sun descends Into the wide, tremulous Silver-gray ocean. Ethereal, rosy tinted forms Are wreathed behind him, and opposite, Through the veil of autumnal, twilight clouds, Like a sad, deathly-pale countenance, Breaks the moon, And after her, like sparks of light, In the misty distance, shimmer the stars. Once there shone forth in heaven, Nuptially united, Luna the goddess, and Sol the god. And around them gathered the stars, Those innocent little children. But evil tongues whispered dissension, And in bitterness parted The lofty, illustrious pair. Now all day in lonely splendor The sun-god fares overhead, Worshiped and magnified in song, For the excellence of his glory, By haughty prosperity -- hardened men. But at night In heaven wandereth Luna, The poor mother, With her orphaned, starry children; And she shines with a quiet sadness, And loving maidens and gentle poets Dedicate to her their tears and their songs. Poor weak Luna! womanly-natured, Still doth she love her beautiful consort. Towards evening pale and trembling, She peers forth from light clouds, And sadly gazes after the departing one, And in her anguish fain would call to him, "Come Come! out children are pining for thee!" But the scornful sun-god, At the mere sight of his spouse, Glows in doubly-dyed purple, With wrath and grief, And implacably he hastens downward To the cold waves of his widowed couch. * * * * * * Thus did evil-whispering tongues Bring grief and ruin Even upon the immortal gods. And the poor gods in heven above Painfully wander Disconsolate on their eternal paths, And cannot die; And drag with them The chain of their glittering misery. But I, the son of man, The lowly-born, thy death-crowned one, I murmur no more.
Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), "Sunset", appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Sonnenuntergang", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Nordsee, in Erster Zyklus, no. 3, first published 1825-6
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-05
Line count: 56
Word count: 290