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Was schläfst und träumst du, Jüngling, gehüllt in dich, Und säumst am kalten Ufer, Geduldiger, Und achtest nicht des Ursprungs, du, des Oceans Sohn, des Titanenfreundes! Die Liebesboten, welche der Vater schickt, Kennst du die lebenatmenden Lüfte nicht? Und trifft das Wort dich nicht, das hell von Oben der wachende Gott dir sendet? Schon tönt, schon tönt es ihm in der Brust, es quillt, Wie, da er noch im Schosse der Felsen [spielt']1, Ihm auf, und nun gedenkt er seiner Kraft, der Gewaltige, nun, nun eilt er, Der Zauderer, er spottet der Fesseln nun, Und nimmt und bricht und wirft die Zerbrochenen Im Zorne, spielend, da und dort zum Schallenden Ufer und an der Stimme Des Göttersohns erwachen die Berge rings, Es regen sich die Wälder, es hört die Kluft Den Herold fern und schaudernd regt im Busen der Erde sich Freude wieder. Der Frühling kommt; es dämmert das neue Grün; Er aber wandelt hin zu Unsterblichen; Denn nirgend darf er bleiben, als wo Ihn in die Arme der Vater aufnimmt.
1 Hauer: "schlief"
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "Der gefesselte Strom", appears in Gedichte 1800-1804, in Oden [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 Josef Matthias Hauer (1883 - 1959), "Der gefesselte Strom", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1929 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Karl Schneider , "Der gefesselte Strom", published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], from Acht Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel  [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John H. Campbell) , "The restrained stream", copyright ©, (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: 24
Word count: 171
What do you dream as you sleep, youth wrapped, and hemmed in by the cold banks, patient one! And are you oblivious of your origin, you son of the Oceans, friend of Titan? That blessing, sent by the Father, know you nothing of the live-giving Air? And do you not heed the Word, that brightly from above the ever watchful God sends you? Ever it sounds, ever in the breast it sounds, it streams, As, when he still slept in the lap of the rocks, On he flows, and now he recognizes his strength, his might, now, now he, the waverer, hurries now he mocks the shackles, and takes and breaks and throws and shatters in his fury, playing, here and there to the resounding shore. And heeding the call this son of Gods awakens the mountains 'round, he moves the forests, he hears the gulf of the distant herald and shuddering in joy awakens the bosom of the earth again. The spring comes; the new green dawns; He wanders now with immortals; Because nowhere can he remain, and he is lifted into the arms of the Father.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "Der gefesselte Strom", appears in Gedichte 1800-1804, in Oden
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 189