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Sitz' ich im Gras am glatten See, Beschleicht die Seele [süßes]1 Weh, [Wie Aeolsharfen klingt]2 mich an [Ein unnennbarer Zauberwahn]3. Das Schilfrohr neiget seufzend sich, Die Uferblumen grüßen mich, Der Vogel klagt, die Lüfte wehn, Vor [Schmerzeslust]4 möcht' ich vergehn! Wie mir das Leben kräftig quillt Und sich in raschen Strömen spielt. Wie's bald in trüben Massen gährt, Und bald zum Spiegel sich verklärt. Bewußtseyn meiner tiefsten Kraft, Ein Wonnemeer in mir erschafft. Ich stürze kühn in seine Fluth Und ringe um das höchste Gut! O Leben bist so himmlisch schön, In deinen Tiefen, in deinen Höhn. Dein freundlich Licht soll ich nicht sehn, Den finstern Pfad des Orkus gehn? Doch bist du mir das Höchste nicht: Drum opfr' ich freudig dich der Pflicht. Ein Strahlenbild schwebt mir voran, Und mutig wag' ich's Leben dran! Das Strahlenbild ist oft betränt, Wenn es durch meinen Busen brennt, Die Tränen weg vom Wangenrot, Und dann in tausendfachen Tod. Du warst so menschlich, warst so hold, O großer deutscher Leopold! Die Menschheit [füllte]5 dich so ganz Und reichte dir den Opferkranz. Und hehr geschmückt sprangst du hinab, Für Menschen in das Wellengrab. Vor dir erbleicht, o Fürstensohn, Thermopylae und Marathon! Das Schilfrohr neiget seufzend sich, Die Uferblumen grüßen mich, Der Vogel klagt, die Lüfte wehn, Vor Schmerzeslust möcht' ich vergehn!
This is the initial version of Mayrhofer's poem, given to Schubert in manuscript form by Josef von Spaun in 1814. The poem was printed ten years later in an adapted version by Mayrhofer; see below.
Note: When this song was published for the first time, by Friedlaender in 1885, only a part of Schubert's manuscript was at hand. So Friedlaender decided to publish only the first two stanzas (with textual modifications) and add a repetition with two more stanzas, provided by Max Kalbeck. These additional stanzas can be found here.
Note: The Leopold mentioned in the text was Herzog Leopold von Braunschweig (a newphew of Frederick the Great), who was drowned on April 27, 1785, in an attempt to save citizens during a flood on the river Oder.
Orkus (Orcus in English) was the Roman god of death and the underworld, either a terrible god or a
gentle one. He is the god of oaths and punisher of perjurers. Orcus is identical
to the Greek Hades, both the god and his domains.
2 Schubert (Friedlaender edition): "Mit Geisterarmen rührt"
3 Schubert (Friedlaender edition): "Geheimnisvoller Zauberbann"
4 Schubert (Friedlaender edition): "Schmerzenslust"
5 Schubert (Alte Gesamtausgabe): "fühlte"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Am See", written <<1814, first published 1824
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), "Am See", D 124 (1814), published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Friedlaender VII, Leipzig (redacted) [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) , "A la vora del llac", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan het meer", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "By the lake", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Près du lac", copyright © 2011, (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: 2013-03-18
Line count: 40
Word count: 223
In riva al quieto lago me ne sto in disparte una dolce tristezza pervade l’anima mia e come dal suono di eoliche Arpe ne vengo avvolto con la sua magia. Con un lieve sospiro il canneto si china mi porgono un saluto i fiori, sulla riva, canta un uccello, mentre soffia il vento, perdermi vorrei in questo dolce tormento! E tuttavia vigorosa scorre la vita da rapide correnti attraversata, ora in un’oscura massa si trasforma ora come uno specchio limpida ritorna. La consapevolezza della mia forza profonda come una marea gioiosa tutto mi inonda. Mi tuffo con coraggio in questo flutto e per il bene più alto ora combatto! O vita, quanto sei divinamente bella sia in ogni tuo abisso, sia in ogni tua vetta. Come potrei alla tua luce amica rinunciare e verso l’Orco oscuro camminare? Ma tu non sei la cosa cui più di ogni altra tengo: perché con gioia il dovere ti antepongo. Un'immagine radiosa mi guida, e con coraggio rischio la mia vita! L'immagine radiosa per il pianto si offusca, Quando qualcosa dentro il cuore mi brucia, asciugo allora le lacrime sul volto, E a migliaia di morti vado incontro. Eri così umano, così generoso, tu, Leopoldo, un tedesco valoroso! Per l'umanità che hai tanto amato la corona del sacrificio hai conquistato. E con questo ornamento, per salvare tutti ti è toccato morire annegato fra i flutti, a tuo confronto, o figlio di nobili, impallidiscono Maratona e Termopili! Con un lieve sospiro il canneto si china mi porgono un saluto i fiori, sulla riva, canta un uccello, mentre soffia il vento, perdermi vorrei in questo dolce tormento
Note: Leopoldo, duca di Brunswick, annegò il 27 aprile 1785 mentre tentava di salvare i suoi sudditi minacciati da una diga allagata. (Leopold, Duke of Brunswick, drowned on April 27, 1785, while attempting to save his subjects threatened by a flooded dam.)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2026 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Am See", written <<1814, first published 1824
This text was added to the website: 2026-03-21
Line count: 40
Word count: 271