by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Talismane
 (Sung text for setting by R. Schumann)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Gottes ist der Orient!
Gottes ist der Okzident!
Nord und südliches Gelände
Ruht im Frieden seiner Hände.

Er, der einzige Gerechte,
Will für jedermann das Rechte.
Sei von seinen hundert Namen
Dieser hochgelobet! Amen.

Mich verwirren will das Irren;
Doch du weißt mich zu entwirren,
Wenn ich handle, wenn ich dichte,
Gib du meinem Weg die Richte!

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Talismane", op. 25 no. 8 (1840), published 1840, stanzas 1-3 [ voice and piano ], from Myrten, no. 8, Leipzig, Kistner
        Score: IMSLP [external link]

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Marta Garcia Cadena) , "Talismà", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Talismannen", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Talismane", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 22
Word count: 117

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
God's is the Orient!
God's is the Occident!
Northern and southern lands
repose in the peace of His hands.

He, the only judge,
desires for everyone what is right.
Of each of his hundred names,
let this one be highly praised! Amen.

My errors bewilder me,
yet You know how to disentangle me from my confusion.
When I act, when I write poetry,
show me the right path!

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Note for stanza 1: "Orient" is the East; "Occident" is the West.
Translation revised 11-12-09 with very helpful suggestions by Bertram Kottmann

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 22
Word count: 137