by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
Translation by Otto Gildemeister (1823 - 1902)
There was a time, I need not name
Language: English
There was a time, I need not name, Since it will ne'er forgotten be, When all our feelings were the same As still my soul hath been to thee. And from that hour when first thy tongue Confess'd a love which equall'd mine, Though many a grief my heart hath wrung, Unknown, and thus unfelt, by thine, None, none hath sunk so deep as this -- To think how all that love hath flown; Transient as every faithless kiss, But transient in thy breast alone. And yet my heart some solace knew, When late I heard thy lips declare, In accents once imagined true, Remembrance of the days that were. Yes! my adored, yet most unkind! Though thou wilt never love again, To me 'tis doubly sweet to find Remembrance of that love remain. Yes! 'tis a glorious thought to me, Nor longer shall my soul repine, Whate'er thou art or e'er shall be, Thou hast been dearly, solely mine.
Text Authorship:
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "There was a time, I need not name", written 1808 [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Otto Gildemeister (1823 - 1902) , "There was a time", written 1809 ; composed by Eduard Lassen.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2012-05-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 159
There was a time
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Es war die Zeit, - du kennst das Jahr, Das unsre Seele nie vergißt, Wo treu all unser Fühlen war, Wie meines stets geblieben ist. Wohl seit der Stunde, wo dein Mund Die erste Liebe mir gestand, War oft mein Herz von Trauer wund, Die deins nicht ahnte noch empfand; Doch traf kein Gram so tief wie der Um jenen nun gebrochnen Schwur: All diese Liebe falsch und leer, Doch falsch in deinem Herzen nur! Doch aller Trost ward nicht geraubt: Denn jüngst auf deinen Lippen war, Im Ton, an den ich einst geglaubt, Erinnerung an jenes Jahr. Ja, du mein Abgott, du mein Gram! Du hast mich niemals wieder lieb, Doch Balsam wars, wie ich vernahm, Der Liebe Angedenken blieb. Gedanke, der mir Wonne ist! Mein Herz soll nicht mehr traurig sein: Was du auch heut und morgen bist, Du warst doch einmal einzig mein.
Text Authorship:
- by Otto Gildemeister (1823 - 1902), "There was a time", written 1809 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "There was a time, I need not name", written 1808
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "There was a time", op. 68 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Hainauer [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2012-05-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 145