Die Zeit
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG ITA
Aria
Die Zeit verzehrt
die eignen Kinder
viel geschwinder
als sie die selbigen
zur Welt geboren hat.
Jahr, Monat, Wochen, Tag und Stunden
sind, wenn sie sind, verschwunden;
der Leib, der sie gebiert
ist ihr gewisses Grab;
die Mutter würgt sie selber ab
und hort nicht auf und frisst
und wird doch niemals satt.
Recitative
Der Anfang lieget stets beim Ende.
Kaum bricht der lichte Tag hervor,
so zieht die Nacht den braunene Flor
den heitern Lüften an;
sie nimmt den Schatten in die Hände,
der auch sogar den Mittag selbst verdunkeln kann,
und kehrt das Licht in Finsterniss.
Ach, braucht den Tag!
Die Nacht folgt bald, und dass gewiss.
Aria
Fahrt, reitet, spielt Karten,
trinkt Koffee, raucht Knaster,
sucht Scherz und Vergnügen,
singt, tanzet und lacht!
Macht euch lustig, aber wisset,
dass ihr einst von euer Lust
Red und Antwort geben müsset!
Darum bleibet in den Schranken,
nehmt dei Grenzen wohl in acht!
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):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Time", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il tempo", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Amelia Maria Imbarrato
This text was added to the website: 2005-10-30
Line count: 33
Word count: 154
Time
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Aria
Time consumes
her own children
much more quickly
than she can birth
them into the world.
Years, months, weeks, days and hours
are - when they occur - gone;
The womb that gives birth to them
Is their certain grave;
The mother murders them herself,
Never ceasing, and devours them
and is never, ever satisfied.
Recitative
The beginning always lies at the end.
When the light of day has scarcely broken,
Night lowers the shadowed veil
Across the bright skies.
It takes the shadows in its hands,
Which can even dim noon itself,
And transforms light into darkness.
Ah, it needs the day!
Night follows soon, and that certainly.
Aria
Travel, ride, play cards,
Drink coffee, smoke tobacco,
Seek jest and entertainment,
Sing, dance and laugh!
Make yourselves happy, but know,
That, for your pleasure, you will be called upon
To answer and give account!
Therefore, remain within the boundaries
And consider well the limits!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-05
Line count: 33
Word count: 154
