by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Zauber der Heimath
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Durch des Waldes Hauch, der dein Haupt gekühlt
Auf der Moosbank, wo du als Kind gespielt;
Durch der Linde Flüstern, die leise weht,
Wo dein Elternhaus unter Blumen steht;
Durch den Duft der Primel sogar im Gras;
Durch der Laube Dämmern: -- durch Alles das
Kehrt' ein Zauber in deinem Herzen ein,
Heilig und köstlich -- o, warte sein!
 
Durch die Quelle, die mit lullendem Ton
Oft dich gesungen in Träume schon;
Durch des Epheu's Zittern, der windbewegt
Um die Rinne schwankt und an's Fenster schlägt;
Durch der Biene Lied und der Nachtigall,
Durch der Sonntagsglocken freudigen Schall,
Und durch jeden Laut, der dich sonst beschlich,
Fester und süßer umstrickt er dich!
 
Durch das Dämmerstündchen am Winterheerd,
Wenn der Abend Plaudern und Lust bescheert;
Durch das Mährchen, vor dem der Sandmann flieht;
Durch das Abendgebet und das Abendlied;
Durch das Auge, das strahlt, und den Mund, der lacht;
Durch den Handdruck und durch das "Gute Nacht!"
Durch den Kuß bei'm Scheiden und, bei'm Empfang
Hält dich der Zauber dein Leben lang.
 
Segn' ihn, o segn' ihn! zerstör' ihn nicht!
Er ist dir ein Schirm und ein leitend Licht!
Er führte des Freien muthigen Schritt
In die Schlachten hinaus, die sein Bergvolk stritt;
Ließ den kehrenden Wandrer die Fluth bestehn,
Daß er sterbe, wo Lüfte der Heimath wehn;
Und zur Schwelle des Vaters -- lang, ach, geflohn! --
Bracht' er zurück den verlorenen Sohn!
 
Ja! wenn voll Trotzes dein Herz sich vermißt,
Wenn es fahrig schweift, wenn es kalt vergißt;
Wenn der schwüle, sengende Hauch der Welt
Auf das Blumenbeet deiner Kindheit fallt:
O, dann denk' an die Moosbank du wiederum,
An des Epheu's Geräusch, an der Biene Gesumm;
Denk' an den Baum vor des Vaters Thür --
Neu so gewinnst du den Zauber dir!

Confirmed with Ferdinand Freiligrath's sämmtliche Werke, Vierter Band, New-York [sic]: Verlag von Friedrich Gerhard, 1858, pages 84-85.


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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The enchantments of home", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 40
Word count: 289

The enchantments of home
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
By means of the breath of the wind that cooled your brow
Upon the mossy bench where you played as a child;
By means of the whispering of the linden tree that quietly wafts
Where your childhood home stands under the flowers;
Even by means of the scent of the primrose in the grass;
By means of the twilight descending on the arbour: -- by means of all of this
An enchantment enters into your heart,
Holy and precious -- oh guard it well!
 
By means of the water-spring, which with its lulling sound
Has often already sung you into your dreams;
By means of the trembling of the ivy that, moved by the wind,
Waves about the gutters and taps on the window;
By means of the song of the bees and the nightingale,
By means of the joyful sound of the Sunday bells,
And by means of every sound, that otherwise crept up on you,
More tightly and more sweetly [the enchantment] casts a net about you!
 
By means of the twilit hour by the hearth in winter,
When the evening grants you conversation and joy;
By means of the fairy tale that causes the sandman to flee;
By means of the evening prayer and the evening song;
By means of the eye that beams and the lips that laugh;
By means of the handshake and the "good night!"
By means of the kiss at parting and in welcome
The enchantment shall hold you all your life.
 
Bless it, oh bless it! do not destroy it!
It is a protection for you and a guiding light!
It led the courageous step of the free man
Out into the battles that his mountain-people fought;
It allowed the returning wanderer to stand firm in the floodwaters,
So that he could die where the breezes of his homeland blow;
And to the threshold of the father -- long, ah, avoided! --
It brought back the prodigal son!
 
Yes! when, full of defiance, your heart becomes impudent,
When it roves about erratically, when it coldly forgets;
When the oppressive, singeing breath of the world
Falls upon the flowerbed of your childhood:
Oh, then think on the mossy bank again,
[Think] on the sound of the ivy, on the humming of the bee;
Think on the tree before your father's door
Thus you shall gain the enchantment anew!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 40
Word count: 391