An eine junge Freundin
Language: German (Deutsch)
Nie schmückt der Seele süßer Reitz,
Geliebtes Mädchen, Dich,
Sehnt nicht Dein Herz, mit edlem Geitz,
Nach innerm Adel sich.
Ein schlanker Wuchs, ein schön Gesicht,
Es reitzt, allein es fesselt nicht.
Zu schnell entflieht der Schönheit Glanz,
Der Jugendblüthe Pracht,
Flicht Geistesanmuth nicht den Kranz,
Der dann auch lieblich macht,
Wenn Lilien und Rosen fliehn,
Und Falten Wang' und Stirn umziehn.
Der Reitz, den Form und Farbe leiht,
Was wünscht sich ihn Dein Herz?
Verlassen von der Blüthenzeit,
Ergreift Dich herber Schmerz,
Wenn nicht, sobald Dein Reitz erstirbt,
Dein edler Geist dir Freund' erwirbt.
Confirmed with
Gedichte der Frau Elisa von der Recke, gebornen Reichsgräfin von Medem, herausgegeben von C.A. Tiedge, Halle: in der Rengerschen Buchhandlung, 1806, pages 74-75.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "To a young [female] friend", subtitle: "About her wish to be beautiful", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2014-01-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 95
To a young [female] friend
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The sweet allure of the soul, beloved girl,
Shall never adorn you,
If, with gallant fervour, your heart does not
Yearn for inner nobility.
A slender form, a lovely face,
It is alluring, but does not enthrall.
Too quickly the glow of beauty vanishes,
The glory of youth's bloom,
If a charming spirit does not weave the wreath
That then also makes [you] lovely
When lilies and roses fade,
And furrows gather on cheek and brow.
The attraction that is lent by form and colour,
Why does your heart wish for that?
When you have been deserted by time of blooming,
You will be seized with bitter pain
If, as soon as your attraction fades,
Your noble spirit does not win you friends.
Subtitle: "About her wish to be beautiful"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 123