by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1826 - 1911)
Auf dem Schloßhof zu Canossa
Language: German (Deutsch)
Auf dem Schloßhof zu Canossa Steht der deutsche Kaiser Heinrich, Barfuß und im Büßerhemde, Und die Nacht ist kalt und regnigt. Droben aus dem Fenster lugen Zwo Gestalten, und der Mondschein Überflimmert Gregor's Kahlkopf Und die Brüste der Mathildis. Heinrich mit den blassen Lippen Murmelt fromme pater noster; Doch im tiefsten Kaiserherzen Heimlich knirscht er, heimlich spricht er: "Fern in meinen deutschen Landen Heben sich die starken Berge, Und im stillen Bergesschachte Wächst das Eisen für die Streitaxt. "Fern in meinen deutschen Landen Heben sich die Eichenwälder, Und im Stamm der höchsten Eiche Wächst der Holzstiel für die Streitaxt. "Du, mein liebes treues Deutschland, Du wirst auch den Mann gebären, Der die Schlange meiner Qualen Niederschmettert mit der Streitaxt."
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Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Heinrich IV", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zeitgedichte, no. 9 [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 Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Auf dem Schlosshof zu Canossa", op. 102, published 1894. [baritone and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Edgar Alfred Bowring) , "Henry", appears in The Poems of Heine Complete, first published 1861
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2007-09-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 119
Henry
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
In Canossa's castle courtyard Stands the German Caesar Henry, Barefoot, clad in penitential Shirt - the night is cold and rainy. From the window high above him Peep two figures, and the moonlight Gregory's bald head illumines And the bosom of Mathilda. Henry, with his lips all pallid, Murmurs pious paternosters; Yet in his imperial heart he Secretly revolts and speaks thus: "In my distant German country "Upward rise the sturdy mountains; "In the mountain-pits in silence "Grows the iron for the war axe. "In my distant German country "Upward rise the fine oak-forests; "In the loftiest oak-stem 'mongst them "Grows the handle for the war axe. "Thou, my dear and faithful country "Wilt beget the hero also "Who in time will crush the serpent "Of my sorrows with his war axe."
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1826 - 1911), "Henry", appears in The Poems of Heine Complete, first published 1861 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Heinrich IV", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zeitgedichte, no. 9
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-16
Line count: 24
Word count: 131