by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Wenn nicht mehr Zahlen und Figuren
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wenn nicht mehr Zahlen und Figuren Sind Schlüssel aller Kreaturen Wenn die so singen, oder küssen, Mehr als die Tiefgelehrten wissen, Wenn sich die Welt ins freye Leben Und in die Welt wird zurück begeben, Wenn dann sich wieder Licht und Schatten Zu ächter Klarheit wieder gatten, Und man in Mährchen und Gedichten Erkennt die wahren Weltgeschichten, Dann fliegt vor Einem geheimen Wort Das ganze verkehrte Wesen fort.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis, no title, appears in Heinrich von Ofterdingen [fragment], Wien (Vienna), Schade, first published 1827 [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 Giselher Wolfgang Klebe (1925 - 2009), "Wenn nicht mehr Zahlen und Figuren", op. 38 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5, published 1962 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Robert Bly (b. 1926) , no title, appears in News of the Universe: Poems of Twofold Consciousness, Sierra Club, first published 1980, copyright © ; composed by Michael Alec Rose.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , appears in Henry of Ofterdingen, first published 1842
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 68
When marks and figures cease to be
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
When marks and figures cease to be For every creature's thoughts the key, When they will even kiss or sing Beyond the sage's reckoning, When life to freedom will attain, and freedom in creation reign, When light and shade, no longer single, In genuine splendor intermingle, And one in tales and poems sees The world's eternal histories, Then will our whole inverted being Before a secret word be fleeing.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Henry of Ofterdingen, anonymous translator, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge Press, 1842 (agent: John Owen), page 217.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Henry of Ofterdingen, first published 1842 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772 - 1801), as Novalis, no title, appears in Heinrich von Ofterdingen [fragment], Wien (Vienna), Schade, first published 1827
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 ]
Researcher for this page:
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 69