by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis
Translation by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)
Unter tausend frohen Stunden
Language: German (Deutsch)
Unter tausend frohen Stunden, So im Leben ich gefunden, Blieb nur eine mir getreu; Eine, wo in tausend Schmerzen Ich erfuhr in meinem Herzen, Wer für uns gestorben sey. Meine Welt war mir zerbrochen, Wie von einem Wurm gestochen Welkte Herz und Blüthe mir; Meines Lebens ganze Habe, Jeder Wunsch lag mir im Grabe, Und zur Qual war ich noch hier. Da ich so im stillen krankte, Ewig weint' und wegverlangte, Und nur blieb vor Angst und Wahn: Ward mir plötzlich, wie von oben Weg des Grabes Stein gehoben, Und mein Innres aufgetan. Wen ich sah, und wen an seiner Hand erblickte, frage Keiner, Ewig werd' ich dieß nur sehn; Und von allen Lebensstunden Wird nur die, wie meine Wunden Ewig heiter, offen stehn.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis, no title, appears in Geistliche Lieder, no. 4 [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 Ernst Paul Flügel (1844 - 1912), "Unter tausend frohen Stunden", op. 50 (Drei geistliche Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 3 [ mezzo-soprano and mixed chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (George MacDonald) , "Spiritual Songs, number 4", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2012-06-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 124
Spiritual Songs, number 4
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Of the thousand hours me meeting, And with gladsome promise greeting, One alone hath kept its faith -- One wherein -- ah, sorely grieved! -- In my heart I first perceived, Who for us did die the death. All to dust my world was beaten; As a worm had through them eaten Withered in me bud and flower; All my life had sought or cherished In the grave had sunk and perished; Pain sat in my ruined bower. While I thus, in silence sighing, Ever wept, on Death still crying, Still to sad delusions tied, All at once the night was cloven, From my grave the stone was hoven, And my inner doors thrown wide. Whom I saw, and who the other, Ask me not, or friend or brother! -- Sight seen once, and evermore! Lone in all life's eves and morrows, This hour only, like my sorrows, Ever shines my eyes before.
Confirmed with George MacDonald, Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1897.
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
Authorship:
- by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905), "Spiritual Songs, number 4", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis, no title, appears in Geistliche Lieder, no. 4
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 page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2014-08-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 149