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Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne, Beschleicht dein Herz ein bittres Weh, Sie sind dir nah' in weiter Ferne, Wenn Menschen fern in nächster Näh'; Und hast du Thränen noch, so weine, O, weine satt dich ungesehn, Doch vor dem Aug' der Menschen scheine, Als wär' dir nie ein Leid geschehn! Verdammt die Welt dich in Verblendung, So such' auf stillem Waldespfad Dir neuen Muth für deine Sendung, Für starke Treu' und freie That; Um vor dir selber zu bestehen, Trägst du den Sieger in der Brust, Doch nicht die Menschen laß es sehen, Wie schweren Kampf du kämpfen mußt. Ist dir ein schönes Werk gelungen, So sei's zu neuem dir ein Ruf, Hast du ein treues Herz errungen, So denke, daß es Gott dir schuf; Wenn deine süß entzückte Seele Ganz voll von heil'ger Freude ist, O, nicht den Neid der Menschen wähle Zum Zeugen, daß du glücklich bist! Verachte kühn der Selbstsucht Streben, Wie oft sie dir Verfolgung schwur; Vor keinem Throne steh' mit Beben, Furcht hegt ein bös Gewissen nur. Demüthig wirf in nächt'ger Stille Vor deinem Gott dich auf die Knie' Und bete: "Es gescheh' dein Wille!" Doch vor den Menscheu beug' dich nie. Und wenn dir Gottes Rathschluß sendet Der schwersten Prüfung höchste Pein, Dann hast du's, ganz ihm zugewendet, Mit ihm zu thun und dir allein; Davon laß nie die Lippen sprechen, Ob dir das Herz auch brechen will! Laß es in tausend Stücke brechen, Doch vor den Menschen schweige still!
J. Lang sets stanzas 1, 3, 5 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
A. van de Weg sets stanzas 1, 5
J. Lang sets stanzas 1, 3, 5 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with Schau um dich und Schau in dich. Dichtungen von Julius Hammer, Zweite Auflage, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1853, page 94-95.
Text Authorship:
- by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862), "Schweige still!", appears in Schau um dich, und schau in dich, in Heiße Tage [author's text checked 2 times 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 Max Haselhorst , "Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne", op. 5, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Dresden: Seeling [sung text not yet checked]
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Blick' nach oben", 1870, published 1882, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Blick' nach oben", 1861, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], unpublished, incomplete (a vocal line with empty piano staves) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Olivier Lebierre , "Vertraue Dich dem Licht der Sterne", published 1887 [ voice and piano ], from Zwei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebleitung, no. 2, Frankfurt a/O., Massute [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Gustav Sabbath (b. 1826), "Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1878 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Challier & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Joseph Schütky (1817 - 1893), "Lied", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für gemischte Stimmen) no. 1, published 1877 [ mixed chorus ], Stuttgart: Ebner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arie D. van de Weg , "Vertraue dich dem Licht der Stern", published 18--?, stanzas 1,5 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Lieder, no. 1, Dordrecht: Gilgay [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Peter Josef Zwyssig (1814 - 1872), "Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne", published 1881 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], Zürich, Fries [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Remain silent!", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 254
Entrust yourself to the light of the stars If your heart is overcome by a bitter pain! They are close to you in the far distance, When people right beside you are actually far away. And if you still have tears, Cry yourself out unseen! But before the eyes of your fellow man, Be as if no pain had ever touched you! If, in blindness, the world damns you, Then seek on quiet forest paths New courage for your mission, For strong faithfulness and free deeds; In your breast you carry the victorious one Who enables you to remain true in your own eyes, But never let mankind see How hard the battle that you must fight. If you have succeeded at a fine undertaking, Let it inspire you to a new work! If you have gained a faithful beloved, Recall that God created her/him for you. If your sweetly enraptured soul Is completely full of holy joy, Oh do not choose the jealousy of your fellow man As a witness of your happiness! Boldly disdain the striving of selfishness, No matter how often it swore to beset you; Stand before no throne with trembling, Fear is harboured only by a bad conscience. Humbly in the quiet of night throw yourself On your knees before your God And pray: "May Thy will be done!" But never bow down before men. And if God's will sends you The highest pain of the hardest trial, Then you must turn completely to Him, And let it be between Him and you alone! Do not ever let your lips speak of it, Even if your heart wants to break! Let it break into a thousand pieces, But be silent before mankind!
Translations of title(s):
"Blick' nach oben" = "Look upward"
"Lied " = "Song"
"Schweige still!" = "Remain silent!"
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Stern' " = " Entrust yourself to the light of the stars "
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne" = "Entrust yourself to the light of the stars"
"Vor den Menschen schweige still!" = "Be silent before mankind!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862), "Schweige still!", appears in Schau um dich, und schau in dich, in Heiße Tage
This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 290