by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Blick' nach oben
 (Sung text for setting by J. Lang)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne,
  Beschleicht dein Herz ein bittres Weh,
Sie sind dir nah' in später 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!

 ... 

Ist dir ein schönes Werk gelungen,
  So sei's zu neuen dir ein Ruf,
Hast du ein treues Herz errungen,
  So danke 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!

 ... 

Und wenn dir Gottes Rathschluß sendet
  Der schwersten Prüfung höchste Pein,
Dann hast du's, ihm ganz 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!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Blick' nach oben", 1861, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], unpublished, incomplete (a vocal line with empty piano staves)

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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 [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 254

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
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 you have succeeded at a fine undertaking,
  Let it inspire you to new works!
If you have gained a faithful beloved,
  Thank God, who 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!

 ... 

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!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

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:

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This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 290