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Geuß nicht so laut der liebentflammten Lieder Tonreichen Schall Vom Blütenast des Apfelbaums hernieder, O Nachtigall. Du tönest mir mit deiner süssen Kehle Die Liebe wach; Denn schon durchbebt die Tiefen meiner Seele Dein schmelzend Ach. Dann flieht der Schlaf von neuem dieses Lager, Ich starre dann, Mit nassem Blick, und todtenbleich und hager, Den Himmel an. Fleuch, Nachtigall, in grüne Finsternisse, Ins Haingesträuch, Und spend' im Nest der treuen Gattin Küsse; Entfleuch, entfleuch!
Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludewig Heinrich Christoph Hölty. Besorgt durch seine Freunde Friederich Leopold Grafen zu Stolberg und Johann Heinrich Voß. Hamburg, bei Carl Ernst Bohn. 1783, page 157.
This poem makes use of some verses of Hölty's unfinished poem "An eine Nachtigall, die vor meinem Kammerfenster sang" and was included by Voß in his editions of Hölty's poems (see below).
Authorship:
- by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "An die Nachtigall" [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "An eine Nachtigall, die vor meinem Kammerfenster sang", written 1772
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An die Nachtigall", op. 46 (Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 4 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1874 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jan Bedřich (Johann Friedrich) Kittl (1806 - 1868), "An die Nachtigall", op. 23 (Sechs Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An die Nachtigall", op. posth. 172 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, D 196 (1815), published 1865 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gustav Trautmann (1866 - 1926), "An die Nachtigall", op. 4 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al rossinyol", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan de nachtegaal", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To the nightingale", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 74
Do not pour forth your love-enflamed songs' Tuneful sounds so loudly, Down from the blossoming branch of the apple tree, O Nightingale! With your sweet throat, you call me and Awaken Love within me; For already the depths of my soul are stirred By your melting cry. Sleep flees once more from this place, I stare then With a tearful gaze, deathly pale and haggard, At the sky. Fly, nightingale, off into the green darkness, Into the bushy grove. And shower kisses on your faithful mate in your nest, Fly off, fly off!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "An die Nachtigall" [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "An eine Nachtigall, die vor meinem Kammerfenster sang", written 1772
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 94