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Spude dich, Kronos! Fort den rasselnden Trott! Bergab gleitet der Weg; Ekles Schwindeln zögert Mir vor die Stirne dein Zaudern. Frisch, holpert es gleich, Ueber Stock und Steine den Trott Rasch in's Leben hinein! Nun schon wieder Den erathmenden Schritt Mühsam Berg hinauf. Auf denn, nicht träge denn, Strebend und hoffend hinan! Weit, hoch, herrlich [der Blick Rings]1 ins Leben hinein, Vom Gebirg' zum Gebirg' Schwebet der ewige Geist, Ewigen Lebens ahndevoll. Seitwärts des Überdachs Schatten Zieht dich an, Und ein Frischung verheißender Blick Auf der Schwelle des Mädchens da. Labe dich! - Mir auch, Mädchen, Diesen schäumenden Trank, Diesen frischen Gesundheitsblick! Ab denn, rascher hinab! Sieh, die Sonne sinkt! Eh' sie sinkt, eh' mich Greisen Ergreift im Moore Nebelduft, Entzahnte Kiefer schnattern Und das schlotternde Gebein. Trunknen vom letzten Strahl Reiß mich, ein Feuermeer Mir im schäumenden Aug', Mich geblendeten Taumelnden In der Hölle nächtliches Thor. Töne, Schwager, in's Horn, Raßle den schallenden Trab, Daß der Orkus vernehme: wir kommen, Daß gleich an der [Thüre]2 Der Wirth uns freundlich empfange.
Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Zweyter Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 68-69; and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, pages 198-200.
Note: Goethe wrote the initial version of this poem in the stagecoach on Oct. 10, 1774, and the manuscript of the poem became part of a poetry collection given to Charlotte von Stein in 1777, posthumously published as Goethes erste Weimarer Gedichtsammlung, see below.
1 Schubert: "rings / Den Blick"2 Schubert: "Thür"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An Schwager Kronos", written 1774, first published 1789 [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), "An Schwager Kronos", op. 19 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 369 (1816), published 1825, first performed 1827 [ voice, piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 1800, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al postilló Cronos", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan voerman Kronos", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To Coachman Chronos", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Au postillon Chronos", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Al postiglione Kronos", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Covadonga González Bernardo) , "Al cochero Cronos", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 41
Word count: 172
Apressa’t, Cronos! Trota endavant xerricant! El camí rossola costa avall; un mareig vomitiu em capcineja al front davant el teu titubeig. Vinga, que el trot batzegui ara mateix per damunt troncs i pedres, veloç, cap a dins de la vida! Apa, una altra vegada el pas esbufegant, fatigosament costa amunt. Amunt doncs, sense mandra, bregant i amb confiança cap a dalt! Ampla, alterosa i esplèndida és la vista panoràmica de la vida, de muntanya en muntanya plana l’esperit etern, auguri de la vida eterna. Al costat, l’ombra d’un teulat t’atrau i el prometedor esguard de reconfort de la donzella allà al llindar. Refresca’t! Jo també, noia, aquesta beguda escumejant, aquest fresc esguard ple de salut! Vinga, cap a baix, de pressa! Mira, el sol s’amaga! Abans de la posta, abans que a mi, un vell, m’enxampi el boirim de l’aiguamoll, que em petin les genives sense dents i em tremoli tot el cos, ebri del darrer raig m’arrabassa un mar de foc als meus ulls esbromats, encegat i vacil·lant vers la porta nocturna de l’infern. Postilló, fes sonar el corn, fes xerricar el trot sorollós, que Orcus senti que estem arribant, que prest a la porta l’hostaler ens rebi complaent.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Catalan (Català) copyright © 2016 by Salvador Pila, (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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An Schwager Kronos", written 1774, first published 1789
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-16
Line count: 41
Word count: 200