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Entflammt von Liebesqualen, Als rings die Nacht noch webte, O Glück, das ich ersehnte, Ging unbemerkt ich aus, Als Ruhe schon befriedete das Haus. Wohl auf geheimer Stiege vermummt mit sicherm Schritte ging durch des Dunkels Mitte, o Glück! ich heimlich aus, als Ruhe schon befriedete mein Haus. O seligste der Nächte! Verborgen sah mich keiner; Mein Führer war nur einer, ein Licht, durch das ich sah: des Herzens Flamme, wies mir, was geschah. Sie führte mich gewisser denn Mittagssonnenfeuer zur Stätte, wo mein Treuer mein harrete allein, in diese Stätte drang kein andrer ein. O Nacht, so hold wie nimmer das Morgenrot erscheinet, o Nacht, die du vereinet dem Bräutigam die Braut, die umgewandelt sich in ihm erschaut. Mein Herz ihm treu ergeben, bewahrt zum Blumenbette, war ihm ein' Schlummerstätte, wo liebend ich ihn hielt, indes die Zeder mit den Lüften spielt.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Bettina von Arnim, née Brentano (1785 - 1859), "Die dunkle Nacht", stanzas 1-6
Text Authorship:
- by Maximiliane Brentano, née Maximiliane Euphrosine von La Roche (1756 - 1793), no title [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Spanish (Español) by Saint John of the Cross, né Juan de Yepes Alvarez (1542 - 1591)
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 30
Word count: 147
Enflamed with the agonies of love, When night was still weaving round about, Oh happiness that I yearned for, Unnoticed I went out, When rest was already making the house peaceful. Upon the secret stairway Disguised with assured steps I went through the middle of the darkness-- Oh happiness! -- secretly out, When rest was already making my house peaceful. Oh most blissful of nights! Concealed, no one saw me; Only One was my guide, A light, through which I saw: The flame of my heart told me what was happening. The flame led me more surely Than the fire of the midday sun To the place where my Faithful One Awaited me alone; No one else could intrude upon this place. Oh night, so lovely as never The red of dawn appears, Oh night, you that unites The Bridegroom with the bride, Who, transformed, sees herself in Him. My heart, loyally devoted to Him, Guarded as a bed of flowers, Became a slumbering place for Him, Where I embraced Him lovingly While the cedar played with the breezes.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-6 of the original text.
Translator's note: Although this text could be read as a secular love song, my translation is based on a religious reading. My justification for this is the note in the Furore edition (page 79): "Es handelt sich um ein geistliches Liebeslied, in dem die Seele von ihrer Liebe zu Gott spricht.”Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (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 Maximiliane Brentano, née Maximiliane Euphrosine von La Roche (1756 - 1793), no title [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Spanish (Español) by Saint John of the Cross, né Juan de Yepes Alvarez (1542 - 1591)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-15
Line count: 30
Word count: 183