The maiden's lament | The rumbling forest -- the cloud-darkened skies

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by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)

Translation © by Shula Keller

Thekla

(Sung text for setting by J. Zumsteeg)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG ENG FRE

Der Eichwald brauset,
Die Wolken ziehn,
Das Mägdlein wandelt
An Ufers Grün,
Es bricht sich die Welle mit Macht, mit Macht,
Und sie singt hinaus in die finstre Nacht,
Das Auge von Weinen getrübet.

"Das Herz ist gestorben,
Die Welt ist leer,
Und weiter giebt sie
Dem Wunsche nichts mehr.
Du Heilige rufe dein Kind zurück,
Ich habe genossen das irdische Glück,
Ich habe gelebt und geliebet!"

 ...

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

First published 1799 in Schiller's Musen-Almanach, and later, only stanzas 1-2 (with slight textual modifications and a different line break), in Die Piccolomini, act 3, scene 7 (Thekla's song). Until the revised edition of 1804, the final stanza began with a quotation mark.

Composition:

Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg

Kleine Balladen und Lieder, Heft III

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Des Mädchens Klage", written 1798, first published 1799

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Linda Godry) , "The oaks roar, the clouds rush by", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English [singable] (Shula Keller) , "The maiden's lament", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Plainte de la jeune fille", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Richard Morris , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Peter Rastl [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 152

The maiden's lament

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Zumsteeg)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

The rumbling forest -- the cloud-darkened skies 
A maid stands alone by the shore of the sea.
The billows are smashing with might so strong
While she cries out her woe - to the gloom of the storm 
Her eyes brimming over - her tears flowing on and on. 

My heart is broken, and dead to the world 
And nothing remains of my joy and desire,
Oh, heavenly father - take home your child - 
My journey in life now is over and done.

 ...

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

Text Authorship:

Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Shula Keller, (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 Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Des Mädchens Klage", written 1798, first published 1799
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This text was added to the website: 2008-03-06
Line count: 14
Word count: 124