Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Hört mich, Ihr grausamen Götter! Hab' ich mein Dasein erfleht? War es mein Wille, zu leben? Schuf ich mich so, wie ich wurde?-- Was straft Ihr mich dennoch?-- Konntet Ihr nicht einen Felsen Schaffen an meiner Statt? So Hart und so kalt, der der Meerfluth Stand hält? Mich fassen die Fluthen -- Ich trotze und sinke! O Ihr erhabenen [Götter]1 Kennet nicht menschliches Fühlen, Fern ist Euch Bangen und Seufzen,-- Darum erschuft Ihr den Menschen Als fühlendes Spielzeug. Nimmermehr will ich erflehen Gaben von Euch; ja, ich flehe Jetzo schon nicht mehr -- Ihr lächelt Kalt doch und fern wie der Himmel, Ihr grausamen Götter!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotesConfirmed with: Carmen Sylva, Sappho, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1880, pages 31-32.
1 Sommer: "Götter Ihr"
Text Authorship:
- by Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise zu Wied, Prinzessin (1843 - 1916), as Carmen Sylva, no title, appears in Sappho, in 2. Zweiter Gesang [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 Hans Sommer (1837 - 1922), "Hört mich, Ihr grausamen Götter", op. 6 no. 3 (1883/84), published 1884 [ voice and piano or orchestra ], from Sappho's Gesänge aus Carmen Sylva's Dichtung, no. 3, Braunschweig, H. Litolff [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , 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: 2014-12-26
Line count: 20
Word count: 104
Hear me, you cruel gods! Did I plead for my existence? Was it my will to live? Did you create me as I have become?-- Why do you punish me nonetheless? -- Could you not have created A rock in my place, so Hard and so cold, that could stand up against The flood of the sea? I am caught by the torrents-- I defy them and sink! Oh you august [gods]1 Do not know human feelings, Anxiety and sighs are far from you,-- Therefore you created humankind To be a feeling toy [for yourselves]. Nevermore shall I implore you For gifts; yes, I already No longer implore you -- you smile But coldly and distantly as the heavens, You cruel gods!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotes1 Sommer: "gods you"
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise zu Wied, Prinzessin (1843 - 1916), as Carmen Sylva, no title, appears in Sappho, in 2. Zweiter Gesang
This text was added to the website: 2014-12-26
Line count: 20
Word count: 121