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Und wieder schlägt's - ein Viertel erst und Zwölfe! Ein Viertelstündchen erst, daß Gott mir helfe, Verging, seit ich mich wieder regen kann! Ich träumte, daß schon mancher Tag verrann! Doch bin ich frei, das Weh hat sich gewendet. Der seine Strahlen durch das Weltall sendet, Er löst auch Zeit und Raum in diesem Schrein - Ich bin allein und dennoch nicht allein! Getrennt bin ich von meinem herben Leiden, Und wie ein Meer, von dem ich mich will scheiden, Laß brausen ich mein siedend heißes Blut Und steh am Ufer als ein Mann von Mut. So toset nur, ihr ungetreuen Wogen, Lange genug bin ich mit euch gezogen! Ich übersing euch, wie ein Ferg am Strand, Und tausch euch an ein gutes Heimatland. Schon seh ich schimmernd fließen Zeit in Zeiten, Verlieren sich in unbegrenzte Weiten Gefilde, Bergeshöhen, Wolkenflug: Die Ewigkeit in einem Atemzug! Der letzte Hauch ein wallend Meer von Leben, Wo fliehend die Gedanken mir entschweben! Fahr hin, o Selbst! vergängliches Idol, Wer du auch bist, leb wohl du, fahre wohl!
Text Authorship:
- by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), appears in Gesammelte Gedichte, in Lebendig begraben, no. 14 [author's text not yet checked 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 Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Und wieder schlägt's - ein Viertel erst", op. 40 no. 14 (1926) [bass or baritone, mixed chorus, and orchestra], from Lebendig begraben: 14 Gesänge nach der gleichnamigen Gedichtfolge von Gottfried Keller, no. 14, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Martin Stock) , title 1: "The clock strikes again - only a quarter past twelve!", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Et ça sonne encore, d'abord le quart, puis douze coups !", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 172
The clock strikes again - only a quarter past twelve! Only a quarter of an hour, so help me God, has passed since I began to move! I dreamed that many a day had passed! But I am free, my woes have made a turn. He who sends His rays through the universe, He also resolves time and space in this chamber - I am alone, and still I'm not alone! Severed am I from my cruel ordeal and like a sea that I want to leave behind I let my boiling blood flow, standing on the shore as a brave man. Whirl as you may, you faithless waves, long enough have I followed your ways! I sing louder than you, like a ferryman on the shore, and trade you in for a good homeland. I already see the shimmering flow of mingled times dissolve in unlimited space, meadows, mountain tops, floating clouds: Eternity in one deep breath! The last breath a whirling sea of life With thoughts escaping from my head! Farewell now, oh self, vain idol, Whoever you may be, farewell, farewell!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 by Martin Stock, (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 Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), appears in Gesammelte Gedichte, in Lebendig begraben, no. 14
This text was added to the website: 2004-04-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 182