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Zu Weinsberg steht ein Hügel, Der grauer Vorzeit Trümmer trägt, In denen Westhauchs Flügel In stiller Nacht die Harfe schlägt. Hörst du dies fremde Klingen Vom Berge durch die Rebenflur, Fragst du: Woher dies Singen? Singt ihren Kummer die Natur? Ich armer, halb erblindet, Saß jüngst dort auf bemoostem Stein, Da hat der Klang entzündet Im Innern mir den hellsten Schein. Ja, dank dem Traumgesichte, So mir die äußre Nacht zerstreut! In mir im hellsten Lichte Steht dieses Berges alte Zeit. Da ragen hohe Türme, Da steht ein langes Ritterhaus, Ringmauern, fels'ge Schirme, Die blicken stolz das Tal hinaus. Da reiten kühne Ritter Durch's Eisentor im Kleid von Stahl; Doch aus Verließes Gitter Statt Harfenlaut tönt Laut der Qual. Und in der Burgkapelle, Da kniet in tiefer Finsternis, Beraubt der Augen helle, Die fromme Gräfin Luitgardis. Sie spricht, und Tränen flossen: "Bekränzt hat heut mein Kind Dein Bild mit Lilien und Rosen, O Mutter Gottes, reich und mild! Nur einmal noch laß sehen Den Gatten mich, das süße Kind! Dann werd' ich, soll's geschehen Nach Gottes Rat, gern wieder blind." Lang' fleht sie so in Nächten, Bis draußen auch erstirbt das Licht; Als plötzlich ihr zur Rechten Maria strahlend steht und spricht: "O Menschenleid! hast Grenzen! Dir werde mehr, als du gefleht! Blick auf, und sieh erglänzen Den Stern, der licht gen Morgen steht!" Das Fenster der Kapelle Auf wehet Paradiesesduft; Aufblickt die Gräfin helle Und sieht den Stern in blauer Luft; Sieht hoch aus goldnen Lüften Die Mutter Gottes lächeln mild; Ein wundersüßes Düften Ringsum das Rebental erfüllt. Des Dankes Tränen flossen Aus Augen klar, nie wieder blind, Auf des Altares Rosen, Und die der Lust auf Mann und Kind. Und dort, wo sie erschaute Den lichten Stern am Walde fern, Ein Kloster sie erbaute, Das hieß zum Dank sie: Lichtenstern. Die Glocken hör' ich klingen, Hör' in des Chores Heiligtum Viel zarte Stimmen singen: "Der Mutter Gottes Preis und Ruhm." Des innern Schauens Schimmer Ungern aus meiner Seele schwand. Da lag die Burg inTrümmer, Und die Kapelle nicht mehr stand. Und wehmutsvoll aus Mauern Klang mir der Äolsharfe Laut, Als hätt' Natur zum Trauern Sich ein Asyl hier aufgebaut. Ich rief: "O du Kapelle! Zieg mir von dir noch einen Stein! Um meiner Augen Helle Soll heiß auf ihm gebetet sein. Und du, Maria, Reine, Kommt's, daß mein Auge decket Nacht, Hier mir in Lieb' erscheine Und zeig mir eines Sternes Pracht! Kein Kloster kann [ich]1 bauen; Doch Mutter Gottes! mein Gesang, Soll tönen lieben Frauen Zum Preis und Ruhm mein Leben lang!"
1 Schneider: "ich nicht"
Authorship:
- by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Die Stiftung des Frauenklosters Lichtenstern", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte [author's text checked 2 times 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 Christian Immo Schneider (b. 1935), "Die Stiftung des Frauenklosters Lichtenstern", 1986 [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], unpublished ; recitation [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The endowment of the nunnery of Lichtenstern", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-24
Line count: 84
Word count: 425
At Weinsberg there stands a hill That bears ruins of grey antiquity, In which the breath of the west wind’s wings Strikes a harp in the silent night. If you hear this foreign sounding From the mountain through the surrounding vineyards, You ask: Whence comes this singing? Is Nature singing of her sorrow? I, a poor, half-blind fellow, Recently sat there upon a mossy stone, When the sound kindled Within me the brightest light. Yes, thanks be to the dream vision That dissipated the outer night for me! Within me in the brightest light Stand the ancient times of this mountain. High towers loom there, A long knight’s castle stands there, The circular ramparts, rocky protection, Gaze proudly into the valley. There valiant knights ride In armour through the iron gate; But from behind the dungeon bars Come cries of agony instead of the sounds of a harp. And in the castle chapel There kneels in deep darkness, Robbed of her eyesight, The pious countess Luitgardis. She speaks, and tears flowed: “My child today has garlanded Your image with lilies and roses, Oh Mother of God, rich and gentle! Only once more let me see My husband, my sweet child! Then I would, if according to God’s purpose It must be, gladly become blind again.” Long she pled thus in the nights, Until outdoors as well light died; When suddenly at her right hand Mary stood radiant and spoke: “Oh suffering of mankind! you have boundaries! You [countess] shall receive more than you entreated! Look up, and see sparkling The star that shines brightly toward the east!” The window of the chapel Is blown open by the scent of paradise; The countess looks up brightly And sees the star in the blue heavens; Sees the Mother of God smiling gently From the golden heights; A wondrously sweet scent fills The valley of vineyards all around [the castle]. Tears of gratitude flowed From clear eyes, nevermore blind again, Upon the roses on the altar And tears of joy upon husband and child. And there where she had seen The bright star over the distant forest, She built a nunnery, And in gratitude she called it: [Lichtenstern]1. I hear the bells ringing, Hear in the sanctuary of the choir Many delicate voices singing: “Praise and glory to the Mother of God.” The shimmer of the image I saw inside myself Vanished reluctantly from my soul. The castle lay in ruins, The chapel was no longer standing. And from out the stone walls The melancholy sound of the Aeolian harp rang out, As if nature had erected here An asylum for mourning. I cried out: "Oh you chapel! Show me only a single stone of yours! Upon it I shall fervently pray For the restoration of my eyesight. And Thou, Mary, Pure One, When it comes time for night to cover my eyes, Appear to me here in love And show me the splendour of a single star! I cannot build a convent;2 But Mother of God! my song Shall ring out in praise and glory Of fair women my whole life long!"
1 A literal translation of the name of the nunnery would be "Star of Light."
2 Schneider’s double negative was not translated.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Die Stiftung des Frauenklosters Lichtenstern", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte
This text was added to the website: 2014-11-11
Line count: 84
Word count: 520