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Auf der Wellen Spiegel Schwimmt der Kahn. Alte Burgen ragen Himmelan; Tannenwälder rauschen [Geistergleich -]1 Und das Herz im Busen Wird uns weich. Denn der Menschen Werke Sinken all'; Wo ist [Thurm und]2 Pforte, Wo der Wall, Wo sie selbst, die Starken? Erzgeschirmt, Die in Krieg und Jagden Hingestürmt. Trauriges Gestrüppe Wuchert fort, Während frommer Sage Kraft verdorrt. Und im kleinen Kahne Wird uns bang - Wellen droh'n, wie Zeiten, Untergang.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, pages 18-19; and with Mahlerisches Taschenbuch für Freunde interessanter Gegenden Natur- und Kunst Merkwürdigkeiten der Österreichischen Monarchie. Sechster Jahrgang. Wien, 1818. Im Verlage bey Anton Doll, pages 1-2.
1 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "Geistern gleich,"2 Schubert: "Thurm, wo"
Authorship
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Auf der Donau", first published 1818 [author's text checked 2 times 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), "Auf der Donau", op. 21 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 553 (1817), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 276, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al Danubi", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Op de Donau", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "On the Danube", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sur le Danube", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Sul Danubio", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 71
Upon the waves' mirror floats our boat; Old castles tower up toward heaven, Pine forests rustle ghost-like, And the hearts in our bosoms melt. For man's work fails ever: Where is tower, where gate, where wall, Where are they, these armoured strongholds, That were besieged in war and in hunt? Sad undergrowth proliferates, While the strength of pious words fades: And in the small boat, we become timid: Waves, like Time, threaten impending death.
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.
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Auf der Donau", first published 1818
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 74