Nächtlich am Busento lispeln

Nächtlich am Busento lispeln 
bei Cosenza dumpfe Lieder 
Aus den Wassern schallt es Antwort, 
und in Wirbeln klingt es wider! 

Und den Fluß hinauf, hinunter 
ziehn die Schatten tapfrer Goten, 
Die den Alarich beweinen, 
ihres Volkes besten Toten.

Allzufrüh und fern der Heimat
mußten hier sie ihn begraben, 
Während noch die Jugendlocken
seine Schulter blond umbaben. 

Und am Ufer des Busento 
reihten sie sich um die Wette,
Um die Ströhmung abzuleiten, 
gruben sie ein frisches Bette 

In der wogenleeren Höhlung 
wühlten sie empor die Erde,
Senkten tief heinein den Leichnam 
mit der Rüstung auf dem Pferde;

Deckten dann mit Erde wieder
ihn und seine stolze Habe,
Daß die hohen Stromgewächse
wüchsen aus dem Heldengrabe. 

Abegelenkt zum zweiten Male,
ward der Fluß herbeigezogen,
Mächtig in ihr altes Bette 
schäumten die Busentowogen.

Und es sang ein Chor von Männern:
«Schlaf in deinen Heldenehren!
Keines Römers schnöde Habsucht
Soll dir je dein Grab versehren!»

Sangen's, und die Lobgesänge 
tönten fort im Gotenheere; 
Wälze sie, Busentowelle, 
wälze sie von Meer zu Meere!

Translation(s): ENG

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Authorship

• by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "Das Grab im Busento" [ author's text checked 1 time]

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

• by (Friedrich) Wilhelm Langhans (1832 - 1892), "Das Grab im Busento", op. 12 no. 2, published 1886 [voice and piano], Leipzig, Leuckart [
   text not verified 
  ]
• by Johann Baptist Zerlett (1859 - 1935), "Das Grab am Busento", op. 112, published 1892 [men's chorus], Leipzig, Leuckart [
   text not verified 
  ]

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

• ENG English (Walter Meyer) , title 1: "The Grave in the Busento", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Text added to the website: 2010-02-02.
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:03:33
Line count: 36
Word count: 168

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The Grave in the Busento

At Cosenza nightly lisping,
from Busento muted songs,
Answer echoing from the waters
with its trills each note prolongs.

Each way, up and down the river
valliant Goths their shadows cast,
Grieving o'er their leader Alaric,
now in death still unsurpassed.

All too soon and far from home
would he be laid to final rest
With his shoulders, face and neck
by locks of youth still blond, caressed. 

And along Busento's banks
feverishly in turns they raced 
To divert the river's current;
a new riverbed they traced.

In the hollow, fully drained
a still deeper bed they forced; 
Lowered deep into this trench
the dead warrior, armed and horsed;

Then again with earth they covered
him with his possessions brave,
That the tall grass from the river
grow out from the hero's grave. 

For a second time diverted
to restore the river's home, 
With full force in their old bed
Busento's billows sprayed their foam. 

And a choir of men were singing,
"Sleep an honored hero's slumber!
Never shall vile Roman greed
your final resting place encumber!" 

This they sang; the hymns of praise 
resounded from the Gothic host;
Speed them on, Busento billows,
speed them on from coast to coast!

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Authorship

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Walter Meyer, (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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• a text in German (Deutsch) by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "Das Grab im Busento"
• This text was set to music by the following composer(s): Wilhelm Langhans, Johann Baptist Zerlett. Go to the text.

Text added to the website: 2010-02-02.
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:03:33
Line count: 36
Word count: 201