by Adolf von Pratobevera (1806 - 1875)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Abschied von der Erde
 (Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Leb' wohl du schöne Erde
Kann dich erst jetzt verstehn,
Wo Freude und wo Kummer
An uns vorüber wehn!

Leb' wohl du Meister Kummer
Dank' dir mit nassem Blick,
Mit mir nehm' ich die Freude
Dich - lass' ich hier zurück.

Sey nur ein milder Lehrer
Führ' alle hin zu Gott,
Zeig' in den trübsten Nächten,
Ein Streiflein Morgenroth!

Lasse sie Liebe ahnen -
So danken sie dir noch, 
Der früher und der später
Sie danken weinend doch!

Dann glänzt das Leben heiter,
Mild lächelt jeder Schmerz
Die Freude hält umfangen
Das ruh'ge klare Herz!

Note: The poem is Mechthild's song in the final scene of the play Der Falke, which has been performed in Pratobevera's private circle on Feb. 17, 1826. The play has not been published in print. In addition to the manuscript of the play there is a second manuscript of this poem on a separate sheet, dated 1826, which may have been Schubert's source.

Composition:

    Set to music by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Abschied von der Erde", alternate title: "Abschied", D 829 (1826), published 1873 [ reciter, piano ], August Reissmann, Berlin

Text Authorship:

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Afscheid van de aarde", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Farewell to the world", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Adieu à la terre", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Addio alla terra", copyright © 2007, (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: 96

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Fare you well, you lovely world!
Only now do I understand you,
when joy and when sorrow
are passing away from us.

Fare you well, Master Sorrow!
I thank you with moist eyes!
With me I take joy -
you I leave here behind me.

Just be a gentle teacher,
lead everyone to God,
show them in the gloomy nights
a little streak of dawn!

Let them feel love,
and they will give thanks
sooner or later;
they will give tearful thanks.

Then life will be serene,
and every grief will smile placidly;
joy will enfold
the clear and tranquil heart.

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.


Based on:

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: 100