Wie wölben dort sich deiner Kirchen Bogen! Wie schimmern der Paläste goldne Wände! Es schwärmt der Blick, wohin ich ihn versende, Von einer Pracht zur andern fortgeflogen. Da wälzen sich auf einmal glüh'nde Wogen: Es schleudern deiner Bürger eigne Hände Aufs eigne Dach die sprüh'nden Fackelbrände; Ein Feuerkreis hat prasselnd dich umzogen. O laß dich nur vom Aberwitz verdammen! Ihr Kirchen, stürzt! Paläste, brecht zusammen! Der Phönix Rußlands wirft sich in die Flammen. Doch hochverklärt aus seinem Feuerkranze Wird er erstehn im frischen Jugendglanze, Und Sankt Georg schwingt siegend seine Lanze.
Text Authorship:
- by (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Moskau", written 1813, appears in Leier und Schwert [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Afanasy Afanas'yevich Fet (1820 - 1892) , "Москва" ; composed by Eduard Frantsevich Nápravník.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (William Brownsword Chorley) , "Moscow"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-08-20
Line count: 14
Word count: 91
How thy church domes swell yonder, amply rounded! How sun-gleams o’er each golden palace hover! The eye, delighted, can no rest discover; On every side midst varied pomps confounded, — Sudden, o’er all, by flame the sight is bounded, — With their own hands thy citizens do cover All their own roofs with blazing firebrands over; A crackling ring of fires hath thee surrounded! Let none but fools condemn, this ruin knowing: Churches, be crushed! ye palaces, melt glowing! The Russian Phœnix life i’ th’ flames is throwing! Yet, with bright glories from his fire-crown taken, In the free youth’s proud glance shall he awaken; And conquering St. George his lance hath shaken!
Confirmed with Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes, in Vol. XX, Russia, ed. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1876-79.
Text Authorship:
- by William Brownsword Chorley (1804 - 1879), "Moscow" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Moskau", written 1813, appears in Leier und Schwert
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 text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-08-20
Line count: 14
Word count: 113