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Es rauschen Tage immerfort Vorüber, Sie bringen nicht der Freiheit Hort Herüber, Nach Freiheit seufzt im bittern Schmerz Aus düstrer Kerkernacht mein Herz. Zum Fenster fliegt mein scheuer Blick Mit Thränen, Ich denke an der Freiheit Glück Mit Sehnen. Der Himmel glüht -- ein ros'ger Kranz -- Das ist der schönen Freiheit Glanz! Zephyre fächeln rings die Luft Mit Kosen, Es hauchen zarten, süßen Duft Die Rosen; Und Wolken ziehn auf Wolken hin, -- O, daß ich nicht bei ihnen bin! So schweben, lichten Wolken gleich, Die Freuden Zum düstern, dumpfen Schattenreich Und scheiden. O, laßt mich weilen noch im Licht! Ach, ich genoß das Leben nicht! Entreißt mich nicht dem schönen Traum, Dem süßen! Des Lebens Frühling durft' ich kaum Begrüßen. Für die Geliebte schlug mein Herz -- Was ward mir? -- Nur der Sehnsucht Schmerz! -- So singt der Jüngling gramerfüllt Sein Leiden; Er muß in Kerkernacht gehüllt Sie meiden, Doch hin zu ihr, durch Zeit und Raum, Schwingt sich sein Herz im süßen Traum!
Confirmed with Blätter zur Kunde der Literatur des Auslands, Dritter Jahrgang, Volume 11, Stuttgart und Augsburg, in der J. F. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1838, page 136.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Der Gefangene" [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852), "Узник"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861), "Der Gefangene
", op. 141, published 1849 [voice and piano], Leipzig, Kistner ; note: the Hofmeister catalog indicates this is "nach dem Russischen des Shulkowsky" [sic] [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "The prisoner", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-01
Line count: 36
Word count: 161
Ever and ever the days rush Past, They do not bring the refuge of freedom Over here, From dreary imprisoning night my heart Is sighing for freedom in bitter pain To the window flies my shy gaze With tears, I ponder the happiness of freedom With longing. The sky glows -- a rosy wreath -- That is the glory of lovely freedom! Zephyrs fan the breezes round about With caresses, Delicate, sweet scent is gently released By the roses; And cloud upon cloud passes by, -- Oh, that I am not among them! Thus waft, like the light clouds, Joys Toward the gloomy, dull realm of shadows And pass away. Oh, let me still remain in the light! Ah, I have not yet enjoyed life! Do not tear me from out my beautiful dream, The sweet dream! The springtime of life I was barely allowed To greet. My heart beat for my beloved -- What did I receive? -- Only the pain of longing! -- Thus sings the youth, full of pain, Of his suffering; Wrapped in prison's darkness he must Be parted from her, But toward her, through time and space, His heart wings in a sweet dream!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Der Gefangene" [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852), "Узник"
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-03
Line count: 36
Word count: 193