Free fall | Which way, O Helios? To sink my fire

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by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin

Freiwilliges Versinken

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG ENG FRE ITA

Wohin? o Helios! wohin? »In kühlen Fluthen
Will ich den Flammenleib versenken,
Gewiß im Innern, neue Gluthen
Der Erde feuerreich zu schenken.

Ich nehme nicht, ich pflege nur zu geben;
Und wie verschwenderisch mein Leben,
Umhüllt mein Scheiden goldne Pracht,
Ich scheide herrlich, naht die Nacht.

Wie blaß der Mond, wie matt die Sterne!
So lang ich kräftig mich bewege,
Erst wenn ich auf die Berge meine Krone lege,
Gewinnen sie an Mut und Kraft in weiter Ferne.«

Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts generally in handwriting; the printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later and presents the texts usually in a revised version.

Composition:

Franz Peter Schubert

Text Authorship:

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Freywilliges Versinken"

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Enfonsament voluntari", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Vrijwillig óndergaan", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (T. P. (Peter) Perrin) , "Free fall", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chute volontaire", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Volontario inabissarsi", copyright © 2009, (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: 12
Word count: 78

Free fall

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Which way, O Helios?  To sink my fire
Under the waves for coolness I desire,
Sure at the core I thus renew my might
To fuel earth again with warmth and light.

I never take, my skill is but to give;
And yet though wholly spendthrift while I live,
I store up splendor to release when going,
Flaunt it just as night brings my undoing.

The stars unseen, the moon a watery gray,
While on the track I make my violent way;
Not till on those far hills I lay my crown
Do they gain strength, find fire that is their own.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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 Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Freywilliges Versinken"
- Go to the text page.

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 102