by
Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640)
Sei dennoch unverzagt! Gib dennoch...
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG ENG
Sei dennoch unverzagt! Gib dennoch unverloren!
Weich keinem Glücke nicht, steh höher als der Neid,
Vergnüge dich an dir und acht es für kein Leid,
Hat sich gleich wider dich Glück, Ort und Zeit verschworen.
Was dich betrübt und labt, halt alles für erkoren;
Nimm dein Verhängnis an. Lass alles unbereut.
Tu, was getan muss sein, und eh man dir's gebeut.
[Was du noch hoffen kannst, das wird noch stets geboren.]1
Was klagt, was lobt man noch? Sein Unglück und sein Glücke
Ist ihm ein jeder selbst. [Schau alle Sachen an:
Dies alles ist in dir. Lass deinen eitlen Wahn,
Und eh du fürder gehst,]1 so geh in dich zurücke.
Wer sein selbst Meister ist und sich beherrschen kann,
Dem ist die weite Welt und alles untertan.
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1 omitted by Gál
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Wahlspruch", op. 32 no. 3 (1928), published 1929 [ TTBB chorus a cappella ], from Fünf ernste Gesänge, no. 3, Tischer & Jagenberg, Köln [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ernst Křenek (1900 - 1991), "An sich", op. 53 no. 4 (1927) [ medium voice and piano ], from Vier Gesänge nach alten Gedichten, no. 4, Universal Edition [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Elisabeth Siekhaus) , "To himself", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Elisabeth Siekhaus) (Daria Siekhaus) , "To himself", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-08-01
Line count: 14
Word count: 129
To himself
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Be yet still undeterred! Accept yet still no loss!
Bend to no bad luck's blow, stand higher than ill will.
Take joy, you, in yourself and think it is no woe
If all against you -- luck, place and time -- have sworn.
That which afflicts or cheers, hold all as predesigned.
Take what your fate declares. Let there be no regret.
Do what must now be done, ere one dispatches you.
What you can hope for still, that will yet still be born.
Why wails, why lauds one still? One's hardships and one's luck
Is each one for himself. Examine every thing;
This all is within you. Discard your fond illusion.
And, ere you further step, go back into yourself.
Who his own master is and keeps himself in check,
He o'er the outspread world and all things there does reign.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640), "Sei dennoch unverzagt!"
This text was added to the website: 2007-10-15
Line count: 14
Word count: 140