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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- Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Blick' nach oben", 1861, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], unpublished, incomplete (a vocal line with empty piano staves)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:
- by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862), "Schweige still!", appears in Schau um dich, und schau in dich, in Heiße Tage
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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
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.
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
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This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 290