Five Fragments from Friedrich Hölderlin

Translations © by John Glenn Paton

Song Cycle by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985)

View original-language texts alone: Fünf Fragmente von Friedrich Hölderlin

1. Reif sind, in Feuer getaucht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Reif sind, in Feuer getaucht, gekochet 
Die Frücht' und auf der Erde geprüfet und ein Gesetz ist,
Daß alles hineingeht, Schlangen gleich,
prophetisch träumend auf 
Den Hügel des Himmels. Und vieles 
Wie auf den Schultern eine 
Last von Scheitern ist 
Zu behalten.  ...  Nämlich unrecht, 
Wie Rosse, gehn die gefangenen 
Element und alten 
Gesetze der Erd. Und immer 
Ins Ungebundene geht eine Sehnsucht.  ... 
Vorwärts aber und rückwärts wollen wir 
Nicht sehn. Uns wiegen lassen, wie 
Auf schwankem Kahne der See.

 ...

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
1. Ripe, dipped in fire
Language: English 
Ripe, dipped in fire, cooked 
are the fruits and tested on the earth, and it is a law,
that everything goes in, like snakes,
prophetically dreaming
on the grave-mound of Heaven. And much, 
as on the shoulders
a load of logs,
must be kept. [...
...] For crookedly, 
like horses, go the trapped 
elements and old 
laws of the earth. And always 
there is yearning that seeks the unbound. [ ...
...]
But we want to look forwards and not backwards.
Let ourselves be cradled
as on a swaying sea-skiff.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-17
Line count: 17
Word count: 87

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
2. Indessen laß mich wandeln
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Indessen laß mich wandeln
und wilde Beeren pflücken,
zu löschen die Liebe zu dir
an deinen Pfaden, o Erd',
hier wo Rosendornen und süße Linden
duften neben den Buchen,
des Mittags, wenn im falben Kornfeld
das Wachstum rauscht, an geradem Halm,
und den Nacken die Ähre seitwärts beugt,
dem Herbste gleich.
Jetzt aber unter hohem Gewölbe der Eichen,
da ich sinn' und aufwärts frage,
der Glockenschlag, mir wohlbekannt,
fernher tönt, goldklingend, um die Stunde,
wenn der Vogel wieder wacht.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
2. Meanwhile let me walk about
Language: English 
Meanwhile let me walk about
and pick wild berries,
to quench my love for you
on your paths, O Earth,
here where rosethorns and sweet lindens
perfume along with the beeches,
at midday, when in the pale yellow cornfield
there is a murmur of growth, on the straight stalk,
and the ear of grain bends its neck to the side,
as in the autumn.
But now, under the high vault of the oaks,
where I ponder and question skywards,
the stroke of the bell, familiar to me,
sounds from afar, with a golden tone, at the hour
when the bird awakens again.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-17
Line count: 15
Word count: 102

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
3. Möchte ich ein Komet sein?
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Möchte ich ein Komet sein?
Ich glaube. Denn sie haben
die Schnelligkeit der Vögel,
sie blühen am Feuer,
und sind wie Kinder
an Reinheit.
Größeres zu wünschen,
kann nicht des Menschen Natur
sich vermessen.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
3. Would I like to be a comet?
Language: English 
Would I like to be a comet?
I think so.  Because they have
the speed of birds,
they bloom with fire,
and are like children
in their purity.
To wish for something greater,
human nature
cannot presume.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by John Glenn Paton, (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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Line count: 9
Word count: 37

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
4. Wie Vögel langsam ziehn
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie Vögel langsam ziehn --
es blicket voraus der Fürst
und kühl wehn um die Brust ihm
die Begegnisse, wenn es um ihn schweiget,
hoch in der Luft.
Reich glänzend aber hinab
das Gut ihm liegt der Länder
und mit ihm sind das erstemal
siegforschend die Jungen.
Er aber mäßiget
mit der Fittiche Schlag.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
4. As migratory birds slowly fly over
Language: English 
As migratory birds slowly fly over --
the prince looks out ahead
and like a cool breeze
on his chest are events when
there is silence around him high
in the air; but richly gleaming, down below,
lie the lands that belong to him, and with him are
the youths striving for victory for the first time.
But he moderates
with the beat of his wings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-17
Line count: 10
Word count: 65

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
5. Vom Abgrund nämlich
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vom Abgrund nämlich
haben wir angefangen
und sind gegangen dem Leuen gleich,
in Zweifel und Ärgernis,
denn sinnlicher sind Menschen
im Brand der Wüste,
lichttrunken,
und der Tiergeist ruhet mit ihnen.
Bald aber wird, wie ein Hund,
umgehn in der Hitze meine Stimme
auf den Gassen der Gärten.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
5. From the abyss actually
Language: English 
From the abyss actually
we began
and have gone like a lion
in doubt and irritation,
because humans are more sensual
in the heat of the desert,
drunk with light,
and the animal spirit is in them.
Soon, however, like a dog,
my voice will go around in the heat
on the paths of the gardens.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-17
Line count: 11
Word count: 56

Translation © by John Glenn Paton