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Mit vierzig Jahren ist der Berg erstiegen, Wir stehen still und schaun zurück; Dort sehen wir der Kindheit stilles liegen Und dort der Jugend lautes Glück. Noch einmal schau', und dann gekräftigt weiter Erhebe deinen Wanderstab! Hindehnt ein Bergesrücken sich ein breiter Und hier nicht, drüben gehts hinab. Nicht athmend aufwärts brauchst du mehr zu steigen, Die Ebene zieht von selbst dich fort; Dann wird sie sich mit dir unmerklich neigen, Und eh du's denkst, bist du im Port.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Mit vierzig Jahren", appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 4. Haus und Jahr, in 1. Erste Reihe. Eigner Herd [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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Mit vierzig Jahren", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1883/4), published 1884 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Amb quaranta anys", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Met veertig jaren", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "At forty years", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "A quarant'anni", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 79
At forty years, the mountain has been climbed, we stand still and look back; there we see our childhood lying quietly, and there the noisy happiness of youth. Look once more, and then, strengthened again, Heft your walking-stick! Stretching before you is a mountain ridge - a broad one - and not here, but farther along, it begins to go downward. Without breathing, you need to climb farther upwards, for the plain will pull you forward itself; then it will slope downward imperceptibly with you, And before you think about it, you will be in port.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Mit vierzig Jahren", appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 4. Haus und Jahr, in 1. Erste Reihe. Eigner Herd
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 95