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Nur ein Gedanke, der mich freut und quält,
Hält ewigwechselnd mir den Sinn gefangen,
Sodaß der Furcht und Hoffnung Stimmen klangen,
Als ich die Stunden ruhelos gezählt.
Und wenn mein Herz dieß Blatt zum Boten wählt,
Und kündet, Euch zu sehen, mein Verlangen,
Dann, theure Schwester, fasst mich neues Bangen,
Weil ihm die Macht, es zu beweisen fehlt.
Ich sah den Kahn, im Hafen fast geborgen,
Vom Sturm im Kampf der Wogen festgehalten,
Des Himmels heit'res Antlitz nachtumgraut.
So bin auch ich bewegt von bangen Sorgen,
Vor Euch nicht, Schwester! Doch des Schicksals Walten
Zerreißt das Segel oft, dem wir vertraut.
Confirmed with: Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, übertragen von Giesbert Freiherrn Vincke, Dessau, Druck und Verlag von Gebrüder Katz, 1853, page 33.
Text Authorship:
- by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892), "An die Königin Elisabeth", subtitle: "Von Maria Stuart. Italiänisch", appears in Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, in Erstes Buch, first published 1853 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 1586), "Sonnet to Elisabeth"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "An die Königin Elisabeth", op. 135 no. 3 (1852), published 1855 [ voice and piano ], from Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, no. 3, Leipzig, Siegel [sung text checked 2 times]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan koningin Elisabeth", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "To Queen Elizabeth", subtitle: "By Mary Stuart. [original in] Italian", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-02-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 101
One thought alone that gladdens and tortures me
Holds my spirit captive in eternal fluctuation
So that the voices of both dread and hope rang out
While restlessly I counted the hours.
And when my heart chooses this leaf of paper as its messenger,
And tells of my longing to see you,
Then, valued sister, I am gripped by new anxiety,
Because this leaf of paper lacks the power to give evidence thereof.
I saw the barque, almost safe in harbour,
Held fast by the storm in the battle of the waves,
The bright visage of the heavens shrouded by night.
Thus, I too, am beset by anxious cares,
Not fear of you, sister! But the machinations of fate
Often tear the sail that we trusted.
Subtitle: "By Mary Stuart. [original in] Italian"
View text with all available footnotesText Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Sharon Krebs, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892), "An die Königin Elisabeth", subtitle: "Von Maria Stuart. Italiänisch", appears in Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, in Erstes Buch, first published 1853
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 1586), "Sonnet to Elisabeth"
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 126