Nachtigall, die fromme, lebt und webet
Language: German (Deutsch)
Nachtigall, die fromme, lebt und webet
Ewig in der Rose Dienst und Pflicht;
Doch die Rose sendet hart und herbe
Dornen ihr in's Herze, bis es bricht.
Und von ihrem Aste sinkt verblutend
Nachtigall hinunter in den Staub,
Richtet auf die stolze, kalte Blume
Matt empor ihr sterbend Aug' und spricht:
„Allzu tief verachtest du mich Arme,
Allzu sehr verkennst du meinen Werth;
Nicht so ganz entbehr' ich allen Adels,
Ob mir auch der äußre Schein gebricht.”
„Meine Seele, wiss', ist eine Rose,
Ganz, wie du, so zart, so schön, so licht;
Schau herab, du allzu Ahnungslose!
Kennst du deine Schwesterblume nicht?”
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Hafis. Neue Sammlung. Von G. F. Daumer, Verlag von Bauer & Raspe in Nürnberg, 1852, page 34.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig Grünberger (1839 - 1896), "Nachtigall die fromme lebt und webet ewig", op. 18 (Drei Nachtigallenlieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Frédéric Louis Ritter (1826 - 1891), "Nachtigall, die fromme", op. 1, Heft 2 no. 8, published 1866 [ voice and piano ], from Hafis. Ein Liederkreis aus dessen Gedichten, no. 8, Leipzig, Schuberth und Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2012-06-23
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
The saintly nightingale lives and moves
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The saintly nightingale lives and moves
Eternally in service and duty to the rose;
But, harshly and bitterly, the rose plunges
Thorns into [the nightingale's] heart until it breaks.
And, bleeding to death, the nightingale
Falls from its branch into the dust,
Wearily it raises its dying gaze to
The proud, cold flower and says:
"Far too deeply do you despise me, the poor wretch,
Far too greatly do you fail to recognize my worth;
I am not so utterly devoid of all nobility,
Even though I lack a comely outer appearance.
Know this, my soul is a rose,
Exactly like you, as delicate, as lovely, as bright;
Look down, you all too unknowing one!
Do you not know your sister flower?"
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Nachtigall, die fromme" = "The saintly nightingale"
"Nachtigall die fromme lebt und webet ewig" = "The saintly nightingale lives and moves eternally"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Sharon Krebs, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2020-08-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 122