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Um Mitternacht, ich schlief, im Busen wachte Das liebevolle Herz, als wär es Tag; Der Tag erschien, mir war als ob es nachte - Was ist es mir, so viel er bringen mag? Sie fehlte ja; mein emsig Tun und Streben Für sie allein ertrug ichs durch die Glut Der heißen Stunde; welch erquicktes Leben Am kühlen Abend! lohnend war's und gut. Die Sonne sank, und Hand in Hand verpflichtet Begrüßten wir den letzten Segensblick, Und Auge sprach, in's Auge klar gerichtet: Von Osten, hoffe nur, sie kommt zurück! Um Mitternacht! der Sterne Glanz geleitet Im holden Traum zur Schwelle, wo sie ruht. O sei auch mir dort auszuruhn bereitet, Wie es auch sei, das Leben, es ist gut!
Authorship
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Bräutigam" [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 Hermann Karl Josef Zilcher (1881 - 1948), "Der Bräutigam", op. 51 no. 4, published 1923 [voice and piano], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 4. [text not verified]
- by Winfried (Petrus Ignatius) Zillig (1905 - 1963), "Der Bräutigam", 1941 [female voice and piano or orchestra], from Zehn Lieder nach Gedichten von Goethe, no. 5. [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , title 1: "The bridegroom", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 119
At midnight, [as] I slept, in [my] breast [lay] awake my devoted heart, as if it were day; Day broke, [but] it seemed to me as if it were nighttime - What’s it to me, [if] the day brings all this? Yes, she was missing; [all] my diligent efforts and intentions [have been] For her alone, I’ve endured through the heat Of the hottest hours [of the day]; [but] what a refreshing life [was possible] In the cool evening: it was rewarding and good. The sun set, and bound [together] hand in hand We welcomed a last view of benediction, And looking directly into each other’s eyes, said: From the East, I hope at least, it will rise again! At midnight, the star's light leads [me] In a lovely dream to the threshold, [of the place] where she rests. Oh, let me also prepare to rest there! However else life seems, this is good!
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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.
Contact:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Bräutigam"
This text was added to the website: 2016-04-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 154