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Wo weilt die Seele wie meine gestimmt? Der Stern des dunkelnden Abends vernimmt Nicht meinen Wunsch; was dem Herzen gebricht, Gewährt er mir nicht. Wann in den Pappeln die Nachtigall schlägt, O Freund, wie bin ich so innig bewegt! Mit ihrer Töne Bedeutung vertraut, Verscheucht sie mein Laut. Der Mond beflimmert mich düster und bleich Durch Tannenwipfel und Förengesträuch; Der matte binsenbespülende Bach Seufzt langsam mir nach. Der Wiederhall in den Klüften verschlingt Die Klage, welche die Sehnsucht ihm bringt. Bald schwindet, was der Verlassene ruft, In nichtiger Luft. Erguß, du Trauter, und Sänftigung fehlt Dem öden Herzen, von Sehnsucht gequält, Dem die Natur, die es inniglich liebt, Genüge nicht giebt! Wohl herben Kummer zu mildern gelang Der Mitempfindungen Wechselgesang! Aus Klagen, traulich mit Freunden gekost, Entblühet der Trost. Verwandte Seelen verstehen sich ganz! Nimm dieses Liedes Vergißmeinnicht-Kranz, Aus dem, von Seufzern der Ahndung umweht, Die Warnung ergeht: Wo weilst du, Trauter? Schon grünt uns ein Baum, Der Baum zum Sarge! schon grünet ein Raum; Der Raum wo künftig, vom Graswuchs umbebt, Mein Hügel sich hebt!
J. Lang sets stanza 1
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with: Gedichte von J.G. von Salis, Neue Auflage, Zürich: bey Orell Füßli und Compagnie, 1821, pages 53-54.
Note: the following two lines appear as a motto for the published poem: My lonely anguish melts no heat [sic - should be heart] but mine, / And in my breast th' imperfect joys expire. / Gray.
Authorship:
- by Johann Gaudenz Freiherr von Salis-Seewis (1762 - 1834), "Sehnsucht nach Mitgefühl", subtitle: "An Matthisson" [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 Nikolaus, Freiherr von Krufft (1779 - 1818), "Sehnsucht nach Mitgefühl", op. 2 (Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Klaviers), Heft 1 no. 5, published 1803 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Kunst und Industrie Comptoir [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", c1830, stanza 1 [ voice and piano ], unpublished [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , subtitle: "To Matthisson", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-02-26
Line count: 32
Word count: 176
Where dwells the soul that is attuned to mine? The star of the darkling evening does not perceive My wish; that which my heart lacks It does not grant me. When the nightingale sings in the poplars, Oh friend, how I am so deeply moved! Familiar with the meaning of her tones, My sound frightens her away. The moonlight flickers over me, somber and pale, Through the tops of the firs and the pine shrubbery; The weary brooklet that flows over the rushes Sighs slowly behind me. The echo in the rocky crags consumes The lament that yearning brings it. Soon that which the forsaken one calls out disappears Into empty air. Effusion, you familiar one, and appeasement is lacking For my desolate heart, plagued by a yearning That nature, which [my heart] loves fervently, Cannot assuage! To be sure, the exchange in song of empathetic feelings Succeeded in softening bitter sorrow. From out of laments, familiarly shared with friends, Comfort blossoms. Related souls utterly understand each other! Take the forget-me-not wreath of this song From which, wafted about with sighs of premonition, The warning issues: Where do you dwell, beloved one? Already a tree is growing green for us, A tree for a coffin! a space is already greening for us; The space where in future, surrounded by trembling grasses, My burial mound shall rise!
Subtitle: "To Matthisson"
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Lied" = "Song"
"Sehnsucht nach Mitgefühl" = "Yearning for empathy "
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Gaudenz Freiherr von Salis-Seewis (1762 - 1834), "Sehnsucht nach Mitgefühl", subtitle: "An Matthisson"
This text was added to the website: 2023-02-26
Line count: 32
Word count: 226