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Mitternachts weint' und schluchzt' ich, Weil ich dein entbehrte. Da kamen Nachtgespenster Und ich schämte mich. »Nachtgespenster«, sagt' ich, »Schluchzend und weinend Findet ihr mich, dem ihr sonst Schlafendem vorüberzogt. Große Güter vermiss' ich. Denkt nicht schlimmer von mir, Den ihr sonst weise nanntet, Großes Übel betrifft ihn!« -- Und die Nachtgespenster Mit langen Gesichtern Zogen vorbei, Ob ich weise oder törig Völlig unbekümmert.
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Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Schlechter Trost", written 1815, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 3. Buch der Liebe -- Uschk Nameh [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 Ferruccio Busoni (1866 - 1924), "Schlechter Trost", 1924, published 1964 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Huber (1852 - 1921), "Mitternachts weint' und schluchzt' ich", op. 69 no. 4, published 1883 [ SATB quartet and piano four-hands ], from Aus Goethe's west-östlichem Divan. Zehn Quartette für S., A., T. und B. mit vierhändiger Pianofortebegleitung, no. 4, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernst Pepping (1901 - 1981), "Schlechter Trost", 1946, published 1949 [ voice and piano ], from Haus- und Trostbuch, no. 29 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Poor comfort", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Piètre consolation", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 63
À minuit, je pleurais et je sanglotais, Parce que j'étais privé de toi. Alors vinrent des visions nocturnes, Et j'eus honte de moi. "Fantômes", dis-je, "En sanglots et en pleurs, Vous me trouvez, moi que vous trouviez Endormi, quand vous passiez. Un grand bien me manque. Ne pensez pas de mal de moi Qu'autrefois vous appeliez sage, Un grand malheur l'atteint !" Et les fantômes Avec leurs longs visages Passèrent devant, Que je sois sage ou fou Ne les troublait pas du tout.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2011 by Guy Laffaille, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Schlechter Trost", written 1815, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 3. Buch der Liebe -- Uschk Nameh
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-12
Line count: 17
Word count: 83