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Im stillen Wiesenthale Ich einsam mich erging, Als mich mit einemmale Die feuchte Nacht umfing. Die Sonne war gesunken, Das Abendroth verglüht, Die letzten goldnen Funken Verglimmend ausgesprüht. Die Nachtigall mit Schalle Sang rings die Fluren ein; Die Blumen schliefen alle, Ich wacht' im Thal allein. Nicht fern aus einem Hause, Das, wie aus Duft gebaut, Still wie des Siedlers Klause, Aus Baumesdunkel schaut'; Hör' ich ein lieblich Klingen Melodisch durch die Nacht Von Kuß und Wonnen singen, Und junger Liebe Macht. -- Und wie auf linden Wogen Ein Kahn vom Hauch der Luft, Fühl' ich mein Herz gezogen Hin, wo das Lied mich ruft. Und vor mir auf dem Wege Tanzt hell ein goldner Schein, Durch die verschlungnen Stege Geleiter mir zu seyn. Doch wie ich näher gehe, Erstirbt der holde Schein, Das Lied verklingt -- ich stehe Im öden Moor allein. Der Weg ist mir verschwunden, Hinweggerückt das Haus, Mich hält die Nacht gebunden, Die Leuchte -- sie losch aus. Getäuscht hat mich ein Schimmer, Der mich gelockt von fern; Ein Irrlicht war [der]1 Flimmer, Ich hielt's für einen Stern! --
J. Lang sets stanza 10
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with: Johann Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz, Gedichte, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1859, pages 205-207.
1 Lang: "sein"Text Authorship:
- sometimes misattributed to Agnes von Calatin (1813 - 1844)
- by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869), "Getäuschte Hoffnung" [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 Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Getäuscht hat mich ein Schimmer", 1864, published 1882, stanza 10 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, misattributed to Calatin in the score [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2006, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 180
In the quiet meadowy valley I went for a lonely walk, When suddenly Humid night enshrouded me. The sun had set, The red glow of sunset had faded, The last golden sparks Had spewed forth and smouldered away. The nightingale resoundingly Sang the fields round about to sleep; The flowers all slept, Only I watched in the valley. Not far, from out of a house That seemed to be built of scents, As quiet as a hermit's cell, Gazing out from the darkness of the trees; I hear a lovely chiming Melodiously through the night, Singing of kisses and joys, And the power of young love. -- And, as on gentle waves A boat is drawn by a breath of the breeze, I feel my heart drawn Thither, where the song calls me. And before me on the road A golden gleam dances brightly, To be my guide Through the convoluted pathways. But when I approach more closely, The lovely gleam fades, The song dies away -- I stand Alone on the desolate heath. My pathway has disappeared, The house has vanished, I am held in bondage by the night; The guiding light -- it was extinguished. I was deceived by a gleaming That enticed me from afar! [The]1 glimmer was a will-o'-the-wisp. I thought it was a star! --
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"Getäuscht hat mich ein Schimmer" = "I was deceived by a gleaming"
"Getäuschte Hoffnung" = "Deceived hopes"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) misattributed to Agnes von Calatin (1813 - 1844) and by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869), "Getäuschte Hoffnung"
This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 217