Where to, oh Helios? Into the tides

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by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)

Translation © by Malcolm Wren

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

Voluntary annihilation

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Where to, oh Helios, where to? Into the cool tides
I want to plunge this blazing body,
Inwardly certain that new flames
Can be supplied to the earth from my rich supply of fire.

I do not take, I am only concerned to give.
And just as my life has been extravagant,
Golden splendour will surround my departure,
I depart majestically as night approaches.

How pale the moon is, how faint the stars
As long as I move so powerfully!
It is only when  I lay my crown on the mountains 
That they gain courage and power in the far distance.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Malcolm Wren, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Freywilliges Versinken"
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This text was added to the website: 2019-04-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 93