Gesang der Norna | Mich führt mein Weg wohl meilenlang

Translation by Samuel Heinrich Spiker (1786 - 1858)

For leagues along the watery way

Language: English

For leagues along the watery way,
Through gulph and stream my course has been;
The billows know my Runic lay,
And smooth'd their crests to silent green.

The billows know my Runic lay, -
The gulph grows smooth, the stream is still;
But human hearts, more wild than they,
Know but the rule of wayward will.

One hour is mine, in all the year,
To tell my woes, - and one alone;
When gleams this magic lamp, 'tis here, -
When dies the mystic light, 'tis gone.

Daughters of northern Magnus, hail!
The lamp is lit, the flame is clear, -
To you I come to tell my tale,
Awake, arise, my tale to hear! -

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with The Pirate. By the Author of "Waverley, Kenilworth," &c. In three volumes. Vol. II. Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co. and Hurst, Robinson, and Co., London. 1822, page 126.

Note: The poem appears as Norna's song in the 19th chapter (denominated "Chapter VI.") of Walter Scott's novel.

Text Authorship:

by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), no title, appears in The Pirate, first published 1822 [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):

[ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Samuel Heinrich Spiker (1786 - 1858) , no title, first published 1822 ; composed by Franz Peter Schubert.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 111

Mich führt mein Weg wohl meilenlang

Language: German (Deutsch) after the English

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Mich führt mein Weg wohl meilenlang
Durch Golf und Strom und Wassergrab,
Die Welle kennt den Runensang
Und glättet sich zum Spiegel ab.

Die Welle kennt den Runensang,
Der Golf wird glatt, der Strom [ist]¹ still;
Doch Menschenherz, im wilden Drang,
Es weiß nicht, was es selber will.

Nur eine Stund' ist mir vergönnt,
In Jahresfrist, zum Klageton:
Sie schlägt, wenn diese Lampe brennt -
Ihr Schein [erlischt]² - sie ist entflohn.

Heil, Magnus Töchter, fort und fort!
Die Lampe brennt in tiefer Ruh;
Euch gönn' ich dieser Stunde Wort -
Erwacht, erhebt Euch, hört mir zu!

Available sung texts: ← What is this?

• F. Schubert

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Der Pirat. Aus dem Englischen des Walter Scott, übersetzt von S. H. Spiker. Zweiter Band. Berlin, bei Duncker und Humblot. 1822, pages 150-151.

¹ Schubert: "wird"
² Schubert: "verlischt"

Text Authorship:

by Samuel Heinrich Spiker (1786 - 1858), no title, first published 1822 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

a text in English by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), no title, appears in The Pirate, first published 1822
- Go to the text page.

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Gesang der Norna", op. 85 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2, D 831 (1825), published 1828 [ voice and piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 2877, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Research team for this page: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 96