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Was nützt die mir noch zugemess'ne Zeit?
Mein Herz erstarb für irdisches Begehren,
Nur Leiden soll mein Schatten nicht entbehren,
Mir blieb allein die Todesfreudigkeit.
Ihr, meine Feinde, lasst von eurem Neid:
Mein Herz ist abgewandt der Hoheit Ehren,
Des Schmerzes Uebermaß wird mich verzehren,
Bald geht mit mir zu Grabe Haß und Streit.
Ihr Freunde, die ihr mein gedenkt in Liebe,
Erwägt und glaubt, daß ohne Kraft und Glück
Kein gutes Werk mir zu vollenden bliebe.
So wünscht mir bess're Tage nicht zurück,
Und weil ich schwer gestrafet ward hienieden,
Erfleht mir meinen Theil am ew'gen Frieden.
Confirmed with Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, übertragen von Giesbert Freiherrn Vincke, Dessau: Druck und Verlag von Gebrüder Katz, 1853, page 36.
Text Authorship:
- by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892), "Abschied von der Welt", subtitle: "Von Maria Stuart. Französisch.", 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), "Fotheringhay", first published 1586
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Joseph) Joachim Raff (1822 - 1882), "Abschied von der Welt", op. 172 no. 4 (1872), published 1873, from Maria Stuart, ein Cyklus von Gesängen, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Abschied von der Welt", op. 135 no. 4 (1852), published 1855 [ voice and piano ], from Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, no. 4, Leipzig, Siegel [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Afscheid van de wereld (Fotheringhay)", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Farewell from the world", subtitle: "By Mary Stuart. [original in] French.", 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: 2003-11-14
Line count: 14
Word count: 100
Of what use is the time still allotted to me?
My heart is dead to all earthly desires,
My spirit is replete with suffering,
All that remains to me is looking forward to death.
You, my enemies, leave off your envy:
My heart has turned away from the honours of a high station,
An excess of pain shall consume me,
Soon hate and contention shall pass with me into the grave.
You friends who remember me lovingly,
Reflect and believe that without strength and good fortune
No good work remains for me to complete.
So do not wish for the return of better times for me,
And since I was sorely tried here on earth,
Beseech God to grant me my portion of eternal peace.
Subtitle: "By Mary Stuart. [original in] French."
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), "Abschied von der Welt", subtitle: "Von Maria Stuart. Französisch.", 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), "Fotheringhay", first published 1586
This text was added to the website: 2015-03-20
Line count: 14
Word count: 127