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Noch in meines Lebens Lenze War ich und ich wandert' aus, Und der Jugend frohe Tänze Ließ ich des Vaters Haus. All mein Erbtheil, meine Habe Warf ich fröhlich glaubend hin, Und am leichten Pilgerstabe Zog ich fort mit Kindersinn. Denn mich trieb ein mächtig Hoffen Und ein dunkles Glaubenswort, Wandle, riefs, der Weg ist offen, Immer nach dem Aufgang fort. Bis zu einer goldnen Pforten Du gelangst, da gehst du ein, Denn das Irdische wird dorten [Himmlisch]1 unvergänglich seyn. Abend wards und wurde Morgen, Nimmer, nimmer stand ich still, Aber immer bliebs verborgen, Was ich suche, was ich will. Berge lagen mir im Wege, Ströme hemmten meinen Fuß, Über Schlünde baut ich Stege, Brücken durch den wilden Fluß. Und zu eines Stroms Gestaden Kam ich, der nach Morgen floß, Froh vertrauend seinem Faden [Werf]2 ich mich in seinen Schooß. Hin zu einem großen Meere Trieb mich seiner Wellen Spiel, Vor mir liegts in weiter Leere, Näher bin ich nicht dem Ziel. Ach kein Steg will dahin führen, Ach der Himmel über mir Will die Erde [nie]3 berühren, Und das dort ist niemals hier.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Friederich Schiller. Zweyter Theil. Leipzig, bey Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius. 1803, pages 306-308; and with Friedrich Schillers sämmtliche Werke. Zehnter Band. Enthält: Gedichte. Zweyter Theil. Wien, 1810. In Commission bey Anton Doll, pages 190-191.
1 Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "Ewig"2 Schiller (1814 Cotta edition), and Schubert: "Warf"
3 Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "nicht"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Der Pilgrim", written 1803, first published 1803 [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 Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849), "Der Pilgrim" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Huub de Lange (b. 1955), "Der Pilgrim", published 2006 [ SATB chorus and piano ], from Myrte Lieder, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1752 - 1814), "Der Pilgrim", published 1809? [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Pilgrim", op. 37 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1, D 794 (1823), published 1825 [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Adolphe Régnier (1804 - 1884) ; composed by Henri-Pierre Poupard, as Henri Sauguet.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
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Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El pelegrí ", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De pelgrim", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The Pilgrim", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le pèlerin", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il pellegrino", copyright © 2005, (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: 36
Word count: 187
Early in the springtime of my life I was, and I wandered abroad, And youth’s happy dance Was abandoned by me, in my father’s house. All my inheritance, all my belongings I cast away, happy in my beliefs, And carrying a light pilgrim’s staff, I set out with childlike innocence. I was urged on by a powerful hope And a dark expression of faith “Go forth,” calling [me] away, “The road is open, Leading toward the rising [sun]." “Until a golden gate You reach: step inside, And then earthly things will Become sublime, immortal.” [And] there was evening, and [there] was morning, Never, never did I pause, But it always remained hidden, What I sought, what I wanted. Mountains stood in my way, Currents hampered my steps, Over abysses I built footbridges, and Bridges across wild torrents. And to the banks of a stream I came, that flowed toward the morning [sun]; Happily trusting its course, I throw myself into his lap. Onwards to a great ocean I floated on the play of waves; Before me lies a empty expanse, I’m no nearer to my goal. Ah, no bridge will lead me there, Ah, heaven above me Won’t touch the earth, And There [will] never [be] here!
Translator's note for stanza 7, line 4, word 6: literally, "lap" or "womb"; alternative for this line: "I throw myself into his arms"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Der Pilgrim", written 1803, first published 1803
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 36
Word count: 207