Time's pace is threefold

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by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)

Translation © by Malcolm Wren

Dreifach ist der Schritt der Zeit

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Dreyfach ist der Schritt der Zeit,
Zögernd kommt die Zukunft hergezogen,
Pfeilschnell ist das Jetzt entflogen,
Ewig still steht die Vergangenheit.

Keine Ungeduld beflügelt
Ihren Schritt, wenn sie verweilt.
Keine Furcht, kein Zweifel zügelt
Ihren Lauf, wenn sie enteilt.
Keine Reu, kein Zaubersegen
Kann die stehende bewegen.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Composition:

Franz Peter Schubert

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Spruch des Confucius", written 1795

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Spreuken van Confucius", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sentence de Confucius", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Martin-Beatus Meier , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Time's pace is threefold

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Time's pace is threefold:
The future approaches with hesitation,
The present flies off as fast as an arrow and
The past remains silent forever.

No impatience gives wings 
To its steps when time drags,
No fear, no doubt holds back
Its course when it speeds up,
No regret, no magic spell
Can move it when it has stopped.

 ...

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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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.
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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Spruch des Confucius", written 1795
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This text was added to the website: 2016-09-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 102