by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Fels auf Felsen hingewälzet
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Fels auf Felsen hingewälzet,
Fester Grund und treuer Halt;
Wasserfälle, Windesschauer,
Unbegriffene Gewalt -
[Einsam auf Gebirges Zinne
Kloster- wie auch Burg-Ruine:]1
Grab' sie der Erinn'rung ein!
Denn der Dichter lebt vom Seyn.
Athme du den heil'gen Aether,
Schling' die Arme um die Welt;
[Und]2 dem Würdigen, dem Großen
Bleibe muthig zugesellt.
Laß die Leidenschaften sausen
Im metallenen Accord;
Wenn die starken Stürme brausen,
Findest du das rechte Wort.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Schubert 

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, page 178; and with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Neue Sammlung. Aus dessen Nachlasse mit Biographie und Vorwort herausgegeben von Ernst Freih. v. Feuchtersleben. Wien, 1843. Verlag von Ignaz Klang, Buchhändler, page 44.

Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts in handwriting; the manuscripts of his cycle Heliopolis, dedicated to Franz von Schober, are preserved in the Vienna City Library. The printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later and presents the texts in a revised version. This poem (originally no. 12 of the cycle) is not part of the cycle in the printed edition of 1843. Here it is no. 2 of the cycle An Franz.

1 Mayrhofer (1843 edition): "Einsamkeiten, Abendschimmer, / Hoher Burgen graue Trümmer -"
2 Schubert: "Nur"

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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 70

Rock heaved upon rock
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Rock heaved upon rock,
firm ground and true hold;
Waterfalls, windy shower,
incomprehensible power.
Alone on the pinnacle of a rocky crag,
there is a monastery and a castle ruin.
Engrave them on your memory!
For the poet lives on Existence.
Breathe the sacred ether,
fling your arms around the world -
only the worthy, the great
remain boldly joined.
Let passion roar
in metallic harmony -
when the strong storms bluster,
you will find the right word.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translation of title "Aus Heliopolis II" = "From Heliopolis II"

Text 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

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 76