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Nie schmückt der Seele süßer Reitz, Geliebtes Mädchen, Dich, Sehnt nicht Dein Herz, mit edlem Geitz, Nach innerm Adel sich. Ein schlanker Wuchs, ein schön Gesicht, Es reitzt, allein es fesselt nicht. Zu schnell entflieht der Schönheit Glanz, Der Jugendblüthe Pracht, Flicht Geistesanmuth nicht den Kranz, Der dann auch lieblich macht, Wenn Lilien und Rosen fliehn, Und Falten Wang' und Stirn umziehn. Der Reitz, den Form und Farbe leiht, Was wünscht sich ihn Dein Herz? Verlassen von der Blüthenzeit, Ergreift Dich herber Schmerz, Wenn nicht, sobald Dein Reitz erstirbt, Dein edler Geist dir Freund' erwirbt.
Text Authorship:
- by Elisa (Elisabeth) Charlotte Konstantia von der Recke (1756 - 1833), "An eine junge Freundin", subtitle: "Über ihren Wunsch, schön zu seyn" [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 Johann Gottlieb Naumann (1741 - 1801), "An eine junge Freundin", published 1798, Musenalmanach für das Jahr 1798. Hrsg. J. H. Voß. Hamburg: C. E. Bohn [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "To a young [female] friend", subtitle: "About her wish to be beautiful", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 95
The sweet allure of the soul, beloved girl, Shall never adorn you, If, with gallant fervour, your heart does not Yearn for inner nobility. A slender form, a lovely face, It is alluring, but does not enthrall. Too quickly the glow of beauty vanishes, The glory of youth's bloom, If a charming spirit does not weave the wreath That then also makes [you] lovely When lilies and roses fade, And furrows gather on cheek and brow. The attraction that is lent by form and colour, Why does your heart wish for that? When you have been deserted by time of blooming, You will be seized with bitter pain If, as soon as your attraction fades, Your noble spirit does not win you friends.
Subtitle: "About her wish to be beautiful"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (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 Elisa (Elisabeth) Charlotte Konstantia von der Recke (1756 - 1833), "An eine junge Freundin", subtitle: "Über ihren Wunsch, schön zu seyn"
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 123