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Nacht. Finsternis. In müder Hand Laß ich von Tages lautem Tun Abwärts zur [ewigen]1 Nacht gewandt Die Stirne ruhn. Wie still! Wie ohne Laut die Weite! Kaum rauscht im Weg ein welkes Blatt, Der Wolken dunkle Reise hat Nicht Mond, nicht Sterne zum Geleite. Langsam entgleitet meiner Brust Der arge Stachel, unbewußt Streift alles, was sie tags umgab, Die Seele ab. Was Tröstliches und Liebes ihr bekannt, Tritt aus des Traumes Wunderheimatland Vertraut hervor und neigt sich über sie. O Seelentrösterin, sei mir willkommen, Du Ahnungsvolle, deren Melodie So oft den Alp von meiner Brust genommen! Auf deine Stimme laß mich wieder, Traumtiefer Born geschmückter Lieder, Auf deiner Silbersaiten Rauschen Entrückt und traumverloren lauschen!
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 195-196.
1 Wetzel: "ew'gen"Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Inspiration", written 1902 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Wilhelm Lache , "Inspiration", 1951 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Justus Hermann Wetzel (1879 - 1973), "Inspiration" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Inspiration", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Inspiration", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-04
Line count: 22
Word count: 114
Night. Darkness. In my weary hand, After the day’s loud activity, Turned down toward eternal night, I let rest my brow. How quiet! How the broad expanse is without a sound! Hardly even a withered leaf rustles on the path, The dark journey of the clouds has Neither moon nor stars as companions, Slowly out of my breast glides The evil thorn; unconsciously My soul sloughs off Everything that surrounded it during the day. That which the soul recognizes as comforting and dear Steps forth from the wondrous homeland of dreams, Well known, and bends over the soul. Oh comforter of my soul, be welcome, You portentous one, whose melody So often took the nightmare from my breast Let me again listen to your voice, Dream-deep wellspring of garlanded songs, [Let me again] listen to the soughing of your silver strings, Enraptured and lost in dreams!
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Inspiration", written 1902
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-04
Line count: 22
Word count: 146