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Daß du mein Auge wecktest zu diesem goldenen Lichte, Daß mich dein Äther umfließt; Daß ich zu deinem Äther Hinauf einen Menschenblick richte, Der ihn edler genießt; Daß du einen unsterblichen Geist, Der dich, Göttliche, denket und in die schlagende Brust, Gütige, mir des Schmerzes wohlthät'ge Warnung Geschenket und die belohnende Lust; Daß du des Geistes Gedanken, Des Herzens Gefühle zu tönen Mir ein Saitenspiel gabst, Kränze des Ruhms und das buhlende Glück Deinen stolzeren Söhnen, Mir ein Saitenspiel gabst; Daß dem trunkenen Sinn, von hoher Begeist’rung beflügelt, Schöner das Leben sich malt, Schöner in der Dichtung Krystall die Wahrheit sich spiegelt, Heller die dämmernde strahlt: Große Göttin, dafür soll, Bis die Parzen mich fodern, Dieses Herzens Gefühl, Zarter Kindlichkeit voll, In dankbarem Strahle dir lodern, Soll aus dem goldenen Spiel Unerschöpflich dein Preis, Erhabne Bildnerin, fließen, Soll dieser denkende Geist An dein mütterlich Herz In reiner Umarmung sich schließen, Bis der Tod sie zerreißt!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Note: sometimes misattributed to Schiller, who published the poem in his journal Thalia
Authorship
- sometimes misattributed to Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)
- by Friedrich Gustav Schilling (1766 - 1839), "Im Jahr 1788" [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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Hymnus", op. 33 (Vier Gesänge) no. 3 [sung text checked 2 times]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "Hymnus", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Hymne", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Inno", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor] , Peter Schöne
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 33
Word count: 155
That you drew my attention to that golden glow with which your heavenly light suffuses me; that up to your heavenly light I may lift my humble human gaze Indulging in it; that you an immortal soul who dares to imagine you, Goddess and into my pulsing heart kind-hearted, you gave me the pain as a useful warning and ecstasy to entice envious thieves; To enable me to express my thoughts, and sound my innermost feelings You gave me a harp... Laurel crowns and easy success, [you gave] to your prouder sons, [but] you gave me a harp; To the mind drunk with talent On the wings of enthusiasm life seems to be more beautiful, That through the looking-glass of poetry The cloudy truth is much clearer Much brighter to see: Therefore, great Goddess, Until the Fates come to get me, my heart beats for you like an innocent child's heart, and the flames of my gratitude will glow up to you, May from the golden harp Recurringly flow your praise, Mighty creator-goddess, May this creative mind Nestle to your motherly heart in pure embrace, Until death do us part.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Linda Godry, (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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- a text in German (Deutsch) misattributed to Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805) and by Friedrich Gustav Schilling (1766 - 1839), "Im Jahr 1788"
This text was added to the website: 2005-04-27
Line count: 33
Word count: 190