Damask-Violets | Damask-violets!

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by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall

Nachtviolen

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG ENG FRE ITA

Nachtviolen, Nachtviolen!
Dunkle Augen, seelenvolle, -
Selig ist es sich [versinken]¹
In den sammtnen Blau.

Grüne Blätter streben freudig
Euch zu hellen, euch zu schmücken;
Doch ihr blicket ernst und schweigend
In die laue Frühlingsluft.

[Ja, so fesselt ihr den Dichter:]²
Mit [erhabnem Wehmuthstrahle]³
Trafet ihr [sein]⁴ treues Herz.

Und nun blüht in stummen Nächten
Fort die heilige Verbindung.
[Unaussprechlich, unbegriffen,
Und die Welt erbleicht und sinkt.]²

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• F. Schubert

View original text (without footnotes)

Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts in handwriting; the manuscripts of his cycle Heliopolis, dedicated to Franz von Schober, are preserved in the Vienna City Library. The printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later and presents the texts in a revised version. This poem (originally no. 4 of the cycle) is not part of the cycle in the printed edition of 1843. Here it is no. 1 of the cycle Nachtviolen.

¹ Schubert: "versenken" ("versinken" appears in his autograph but not in the published song)
² omitted by Schubert.
³ Schubert: "erhabnem Wehmuthsstrahle"
⁴ Schubert: "mein"

Text Authorship:

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Nachtviolen", D 752 (1822), published 1872 [ voice, piano ], J. P. Gotthard, VN 325-361, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]

Another version of this text exists in the database.

Go to the text. [ view differences ]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2022-04-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 71

Damask‑Violets

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Damask-violets!
With your dark, soulful eyes -
It is delightful to sink
Into your velvety blue.

Green leaves extend joyfully
To illuminate and adorn you;
Yet you stare seriously and silently
Into the gentle spring breeze.

Yes, you so enthrall the poet
That you pierce his devoted heart
With rapturous beams of emotion.

And now that sacred connection blossoms
In these soundless nights.
Inexpressable, ephemeral,
And the world pales and fades away.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Michael P Rosewall, (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) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-12-21
Line count: 15
Word count: 71