Zorn

Seh' ich im verfallnen, dunkeln
Haus die alten Waffen hangen, 
Zornig aus dem Roste funkeln,
Wenn der Morgen aufgegangen,
Und den letzten Klang verflogen,
Wo im wilden Zug der Wetter,
Aufs gekreuzte Schwert gebogen,
Einst gehaust des Landes Retter;

Und ein neu Geschlecht von Zwergen
Schwindelnd um die Felsen klettern,
Frech, wenn's sonnig auf den Bergen,
Feige krümmend sich in Wettern,
Ihres Heilands Blut und Tränen
Spottend noch einmal verkaufen,
Ohne Klage, Wunsch und Sehnen
In der Zeiten Strom ersaufen;

Denk' ich dann, wie du gestanden
Treu, da niemand treu geblieben:
Möcht' ich, über unsre Schande
Tiefentbrannt in zorn'gem Lieben,
Wurzeln in der Felsen Marke,
Und empor zu Himmels Lichten
Stumm anstrebend, wie die starke
Riesentanne, mich aufrichten.

Translation(s): ENG

List of language codes

Submitted by Emily Ezust [Administrator]

Authorship

• by Josef Karl Benedikt von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Zorn", appears in Gedichte, in 3. Zeitlieder [ author's text not yet checked 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 Hans Erich Pfitzner (1869 - 1949), "Zorn", op. 15 no. 2 (1904). [
   text verified 1 time
  ]

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

• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "Anger", copyright ©

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Anger

When I see, in our dark and decaying
house, the old weaponry hanging
angrily, twinkling in their rust
when day has dawned
and the last sound has faded
where, in the wild movement of the storm,
bowed over the crossed sword,
once lived the saviour of the land;

and when I see a new species of dwarves
scampering dizzily about the rocks,
bold when it is sunny on the mountains,
fearful and writhing when storms come,
hawking their Saviour's blood and tears
once again with ridicule, 
drowning without lament, desire and yearning,
in the river of time;

if then I contemplate how you stood 
faithfully, when no one else remained faithful:
then, thinking of our dishonor 
and burning deeply with angry love,
I want to sink roots into the marrow of the rocks,
and up to heaven's clear expanse,
aiming mutely, like a strong
giant pine, raise myself.

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Authorship

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

  Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

  Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
  from the LiederNet Archive -- http://www.lieder.net/

  For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
  
  
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• a text in German (Deutsch) by Josef Karl Benedikt von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Zorn", appears in Gedichte, in 3. Zeitlieder
• This text was set to music by the following composer(s): Hans Erich Pfitzner. Go to the text.

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.