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When I consider how my [light]1 is spent, Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide, "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" I fondly ask; But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies "God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait."
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotes1 Finzi: "life"
Text Authorship:
- by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX" [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 Stephen Bick (b. 1993), "On his blindness", 2020, first performed 2020 [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "When I consider how my life is spent", op. 12 no. 1 (192-?) [ tenor or soprano and small orchestra ], from Two Sonnets, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Penny Rodriguez , "When I consider How My Light Is Spent" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Sonett XIX: Wenn ich bedenke, wie mein Licht verblich", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Árpád Tóth) , "A vak szonettje"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-01-08
Line count: 14
Word count: 114
Wenn ich bedenke, wie mein Licht verblich zur Lebensmitte schon in dunkler Welt; und das Talent, dess' Muße Tod enthält, liegt ungenützt, obwohl die Seel' für sich dem Schöpfer dienen, zeugen will für mich, was ich getan, daß Rückgab' er nicht schelt: Befiehlt Gott Arbeit, wem kein Tag erhellt? mein Irrtum frägt. Geduldig antwort' ich um Murren zu verhindern: Gott braucht nicht die eig'nen Gaben noch der Menschen Hast: Am besten dient, wer dient nach altem Brauch. Sein Königswort nimmt Tausende in Pflicht und schickt durch Meer und Land sie ohne Rast - und wer nur steht und wartet, dienet auch!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2010 by Walter A. Aue, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Walter A. Aue. Contact: waue (AT) dal (DOT) ca
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Based on:
- a text in English by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX"
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 100