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Da sitz' ich ohne Bogen Und starre in den Sand. Was that ich dir, Ulysses? Daß du sie mir entwandt Die Waffe, die [dem Feinde]1 Des Todes Bothe war; Die auf der wüsten Insel Mir Unterhalt gebar. Es rauschen Vögelschwärme Mir [übers greise]2 Haupt; Ich greife nach dem Bogen - Umsonst - er ist geraubt. Aus dichtem Busche raschelt Der braune Hirsch hervor: Ich strecke leere Arme Zur Nemesis empor. Du schlauer König scheue Der Göttin Rächerblick! Erbarme dich - und stelle Den Bogen mir zurück.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, pages 152-153.
1 Schubert: "den Trojern"2 Schubert: "über'm greisen"
Authorship:
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Philoktet" [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Philoktet", D 540 (1817), published 1831 [ voice, piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 3708, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Filoctetes", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Philoctetes", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Philoctetes", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Philoctète", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Filottete", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 86
I sit here without my bow and stare into the sand. What did I do to you, Ulysses, that you would steal from me? The weapon that was the harbinger of death to the Trojans - it gave me, on this desolate island, my only means of sustenance. Flocks of birds speed over my grey head; I reach for my bow in vain, for it has been stolen! From the thick bush rushes the brown stag: I stretch my empty arms up to Nemesis. You crafty king, fear the Goddess's vengeful gaze! Take pity and give me back my bow.
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 -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Philoktet"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 100