Philoctetes | I sit here without my bow

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by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Philoktet

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA

Da sitz' ich ohne Bogen
Und starre in den Sand.
Was that ich dir, Ulysses?
Daß du sie mir entwandt

Die Waffe, die den Trojern
Des Todes Bothe war;
Die auf der wüsten Insel
Mir Unterhalt gebar.

Es rauschen Vögelschwärme
Mir über'm greisen Haupt;
Ich greife nach dem Bogen -
Umsonst - er ist geraubt.

Aus dichtem Busche raschelt
Der braune Hirsch hervor:
Ich strecke leere Arme
Zur Nemesis empor.

Du schlauer König scheue
Der Göttin Rächerblick!
Erbarme dich - und stelle
Den Bogen mir zurück.

Composition:

Franz Peter Schubert

Text Authorship:

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Philoktet"

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Filoctetes", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Philoctetes", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Philoctetes", copyright ©
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Philoctète", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Filottete", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 85

Philoctetes

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

I sit here without my bow 
and stare into the sand.
What did I do to you, Ulysses,
that you would steal from me?

The weapon that was the harbinger 
of death to the Trojans -
it gave me, on this desolate island, 
my only means of sustenance.

Flocks of birds 
speed over my grey head;
I reach for my bow in vain, 
for it has been stolen!

From the thick bush 
rushes the brown stag:
I stretch my empty arms 
up to Nemesis.

You crafty king, 
fear the Goddess's vengeful gaze!
Take pity 
and give me back my bow.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive
For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Philoktet"
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 99