by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation Singable translation by Natalie Macfarren (1826 - 1916)

Ich wob dies Gewand mit Thränen am Tage
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wob dies Gewand mit Thränen am Tage
Und löste es weinend zur nächtlichen Zeit;
so schwanden die Wochen, so wuchs meine Klage,
so schwanden die Jahre, so wuchs mein Leid!

Wo weilst du, mein Gatte? Hat dich die Kere 
des Todes bereits zum Hades geraubt,
oder schweifst du noch auf dem Meere, 
zu Sternen hebend dein leuchtendes Haupt?

O kehre, Odysseus, eh' meine Hände vollenden dies Kleid!
Mit frevelndem Mute umwerben die Freier dein treu Gemahl!
Sie drängen den Sohn dir vom eigenen Gute 
und schlingen es, schwelgend beim üppigen Mahl!

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Ich wob dies Gewand mit Thränen am Tage", op. 41 no. 8, published 1876 [soprano and piano], from the opera Odysseus, no. 8, Scene 8. Penelope, ein Gewand wirkend ; Berlin, Simrock [ sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • ENG English [singable] (Natalie Macfarren)
  • FRE French (Français) [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Pénélope tissant le voile"


Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2012-05-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 92

This garment by day I weave in my sorrow
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
This garment by day I weave in my sorrow, 
and ravel the web in the still hour of night;
thus wearying long, yet my tears greet the morrow,
Hope vanishes as the long years take flight!

Where art thou, my Husband?
Hath bitter Fate borne thee down into baleful Hades abyss?
Or by tempests toss'd art thou roving upon the wide way'd and billowy sea,
or dost thou stray on the billowy sea?

Return, my Odysseus, return, oh my husband!
Come, ere this garment my hands shall have wrought!
Th'importunate suitors with boldness assail thy devoted spouse! 
Unjustly despoiling thy son of his birthright, 
each day do they dare 'neath thy roof to carouse!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2017-05-21
Line count: 13
Word count: 114