by John Milton (1608 - 1674)
Translation by Árpád Tóth (1886 - 1928)
When I consider how my light is spent
Language: English
When I consider how my [light]1 is spent, Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide, "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" I fondly ask; But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies "God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait."
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Finzi: "life"
Text Authorship:
- by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX" [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 Stephen Bick (b. 1993), "On his blindness", 2020, first performed 2020 [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "When I consider how my life is spent", op. 12 no. 1 (192-?) [ tenor or soprano and small orchestra ], from Two Sonnets, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Sonett XIX: Wenn ich bedenke, wie mein Licht verblich", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Árpád Tóth) , "A vak szonettje"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-01-08
Line count: 14
Word count: 114
A vak szonettje
Language: Hungarian (Magyar) after the English
Tünődöm olykor, mért szállt rám homály éltem felén? E tág föld vak legén talentumom tétlen mért rejtem én, mely így elásva bennem kész halál? Ha majd a számonkérő óra száll, Uram feddése nem lesz-é kemény? „Mit kezdjek így, ha nincs munkámra fény?” ─ lázongok halkan. Ám vigaszt talál türelmem és szól: „Senki sem viszen méltó munkát Elé. Csak tűrd szelíd Igáját, úgy a jó. Hisz Ő a szent király. A szárazföldön és vizen sürögteti szolgái ezreit s az is cselédje, ki csak vár s mereng.”
Text Authorship:
- by Árpád Tóth (1886 - 1928), "A vak szonettje" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-08-01
Line count: 14
Word count: 85