Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Bahnlos und pfadlos, Felsen hinan stürmet der Mensch, ein Wandersmann. Stürzende Bäche, wogender Fluß, brausender Wald, nichts hemmet den Fuß! Dunkel im Kampfe über ihn hin, jagend im Heere die Wolken zieh'n; rollender Donner, strömender Guß, sternlose Nacht, nichts hemmet den Fuß! Endlich, ha! endlich schimmert's von fern! Ist es ein Irrlicht, ist es ein Stern? Ha! wie der Schimmer so freundlich blinkt, wie er mich locket, wie er mir winkt! Rascher durcheilet der Wandrer die Nacht, Hin nach dem Lichte zieht's ihn mit Macht! Sprecht, wie: sind's Flammen, ist's Morgenrot? Ist es die Liebe, ist es der Tod?
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Steffen Schleiermacher (b. 1960), "Sternloses Licht", 2010 [ large chorus ], note: may be wrong text for this title [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Ungewisses Licht", op. posth. 141 no. 2 (1849), published 1858 [ double SATB chorus and piano ], from Vier doppelchörige Gesänge, no. 2, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Onzeker licht", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Uncertain light", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Lumière incertaine", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 99
Sans chemin, sans sentier, en haut des rochers L'homme s'élance, un voyageur, Ruisseaux dévalant, rivières roulant des vagues, Forêts rugissantes, rien ne freine son pas ! Sombres dans la bataille au-dessus de lui, Les nuages en armée se hâtent en chassant ; Tonnerre roulant, pluie en flot, Nuit sans étoile, rien ne freine son pas ! Finalement, ha ! finalement au loin une lueur ! Est-ce un feu follet, est-ce une étoile ? Ha ! comme la lueur brille amicalement, Comme elle m'attire, comme elle me fait signe ! Le voyageur se hâte plus vite à travers la nuit, Il est attiré puissamment vers la lueur ! Dites-moi : est-ce que ce sont des flammes, le lever du soleil ? Est-ce l'amour, est-ce la mort ?
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2013 by Guy Laffaille, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869)
This text was added to the website: 2013-12-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 126