by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation by Richard Flatter (1891 - 1960)

When griping griefs
Language: English 
When griping griefs the heart would wound,
And doleful dumps the mind oppress,
Then Music with her silver sound
Is wont with speed to give redress:
Of troubled mind for every sore
Sweet Music hath a salve therefore.

In joy it makes our mirth abound,
In grief it cheers our heavy sprites,
The careful head relief hath found
By Music's pleasant sweet delights:
Our senses, what should I say more,
Are subject unto Music's lore.

The gods by Music hath their praise,
The soul therein doth joy,
For as the Roman poets say,
In seas whom phates would destroy,
A dolphin saved from death most sharp,
Arion playing on a harp.

A heav'nly gift that turns the mind
Like as the stern doth rule the ship,
Music, whom the gods assigned
To comfort men, whom cares would nip,
Since thou both man and beast doth move,
What wise man then will thee reprove?

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-12-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 153

Musik
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Wenn Gram und Groll das Herz durchdrang,
Die Trauer trüb die Seele zwingt,
Musik mit ihrem Silberklang
Mit heitrer Hilfe Lindrung bringt.
	Was, finstrer Sinn, was, Schmerz und Leid!
	Musik hat Balsam stets bereit.

Im Glück erhöht sie Freud und Glück,
Im Leid läßt sie die Trübnis fliehn;
Verstörten Geist bringt sie zurück
Durch ihre süßen Harmonien.
	Sogar das Wild im dunklen Wald
	Lauscht friedlich, wenn Musik erschallt.

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Du Himmelsheil, stets unverwandt,
wie jener Stern, der Schiffe lenkt;
Du Trost, der Menschheit zugesandt,
Die sich in Mühsal quält und kränkt:
	Musik, du, die nur schenkt und gibt,
	Der ist kein Mensch, der dich nicht liebt!

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten Übersetzt von Richard Flatter, Walter Krieg Verlag, Wien-Bad Bocklet-Zürich, 1954, 2nd edition (1st edition 1936), page 72. Only stanzas 1, 2, and 4 were translated so we have added space to make the translations line up.


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Researcher for this page: Volkmar Henschel

This text was added to the website: 2021-02-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 105