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Spude dich, Kronos! Fort den rasselnden Trott! Bergab gleitet der Weg; Ekles Schwindeln zögert Mir vor die Stirne dein Zaudern. Frisch, holpert es gleich, Ueber Stock und Steine den Trott Rasch in's Leben hinein! Nun schon wieder Den erathmenden Schritt Mühsam Berg hinauf. Auf denn, nicht träge denn, Strebend und hoffend hinan! Weit, hoch, herrlich rings Den Blick ins Leben hinein, Vom Gebirg' zum Gebirg' Schwebet der ewige Geist, Ewigen Lebens ahndevoll. Seitwärts des Überdachs Schatten Zieht dich an, Und ein Frischung verheißender Blick Auf der Schwelle des Mädchens da. Labe dich! - Mir auch, Mädchen, Diesen schäumenden Trank, Diesen frischen Gesundheitsblick! Ab denn, rascher hinab! Sieh, die Sonne sinkt! Eh' sie sinkt, eh' mich Greisen Ergreift im Moore Nebelduft, Entzahnte Kiefer schnattern Und das schlotternde Gebein. Trunknen vom letzten Strahl Reiß mich, ein Feuermeer Mir im schäumenden Aug', Mich geblendeten Taumelnden In der Hölle nächtliches Thor. Töne, Schwager, in's Horn, Raßle den schallenden Trab, Daß der Orkus vernehme: wir kommen, Daß gleich an der Thür Der Wirth uns freundlich empfange.
Note: Goethe wrote the initial version of this poem in the stagecoach on Oct. 10, 1774, and the manuscript of the poem became part of a poetry collection given to Charlotte von Stein in 1777, posthumously published as Goethes erste Weimarer Gedichtsammlung, see below.
Composition:
- Set to music by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An Schwager Kronos", op. 19 no. 1, D 369 (1816), published 1825, first performed 1827 [ voice, piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 1800, Wien
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An Schwager Kronos", written 1774, first published 1789
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al postilló Cronos", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan voerman Kronos", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To Coachman Chronos", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Au postillon Chronos", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Al postiglione Kronos", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Covadonga González Bernardo) , "Al cochero Cronos", copyright © 2022, (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: 41
Word count: 172
Affrettati, Kronos! Via, a trotto scalpitante! Giù dal monte precipita il sentiero, dolorosa vertigine mi opprime la fronte alla tua incertezza. Ecco, balza ardito per sassi e macigni il trotto lancia rapido nella vita. Ora giù di nuovo l'ansimante passo si volge con fatica alla cima. Su, dunque, non fermarti, anelando e spreando, avanti! Immensa, alta, sovrana si volge la vista intorno alla vita, di montagna in montagna aleggia lo spirito eterno, di eterna vita presago. A lato l'ombra di un riparo ti attira e uno sguardo che promette ristoro, della fanciulla sulla soglia. Ristorati! - anche a me, fanciulla, questa spumante bevanda, questo sguardo fresco di salute! Via, dunque, scendi più veloce! Vedi, il sole tramonta! Prima che tramonti, prima che me vecchio inghiotta la nebbiosa palude, e le mascelle sdentate scricchiiolino e le ossa ciondolino, Ebbro dell'ultimo raggio mi trascini un mare di fuoco nell'occhio lacrimoso, abbagliato e vacillante, alla soglia notturna degli inferi. Suona, postiglione, il tuo corno, precipita il trotto fragoroso, che l'orco ci senta arrivare e subito alla porta l'ospite ci accolga cortese.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2006 by Amelia Maria Imbarrato, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Amelia Maria Imbarrato. We have no current contact information for the copyright-holder.
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An Schwager Kronos", written 1774, first published 1789
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2006-01-17
Line count: 41
Word count: 177