by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): FRE
Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond Lugt aus den Wolken heraus; Ganz einsam liegt auf dem Kirchhof Das stille Pfarrerhaus. Die Mutter liest in der Bibel, Der Sohn, der starret ins Licht, Schlaftrunken dehnt sich die ältre, Die jüngere Tochter spricht: Ach Gott, wie einem die Tage Langweilig hier vergehn! Nur wenn sie einen begraben, Bekommen wir etwas zu sehn. Die Mutter spricht zwischen dem Lesen: Du irrst, es starben nur Vier, Seit man deinen Vater begraben Dort an der Kirchhofstür. Die ältre Tochter gähnet: Ich will nicht verhungern bei euch, Ich gehe morgen zum Grafen, Und der ist verliebt und reich. Der Sohn bricht aus in Lachen: Drei Jäger zechen im Stern, Die machen Gold und lehren Mir das Geheimnis gern. Die Mutter wirft ihm die Bibel Ins magre Gesicht hinein: So willst du, Gottverfluchter, Ein Straßenräuber sein! Sie hören pochen ans Fenster, Und sehn eine winkende Hand; Der tote Vater steht draußen Im schwarzen Predgergewand.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 28 [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 Vladimir Nikitish Kasperov (1826 - 1894), "Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond" [sung text not yet checked]
- by S. Lustgarten , "Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theodor Scheibel (b. 1828), "Das Predigerhaus", op. 19 (Drei Lieder von H. Heine) no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Des Pfarrers Familie", op. 22 (Abendbilder : Gedichte aus Heine's "Reisebildern") no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Des Pfarrers Familie", published 1851, from Die Heimkehr : 88 Gedichte aus H. Heine's Reisebildern, no. 28 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , "Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, pages 98-99, first published 1887
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le pâle quartier de la lune d'automne", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-02-07
Line count: 32
Word count: 155
Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The pale half-moon of autumn Through clouds peers doubtfully. Within the lonely churchyard The parsonage I see. The mother reads in her Bible, The son at the light doth gaze, One drowsy daughter is nodding, While another speaks and says: "Ah me! how dreary the days are! How dull and dark and mean! Only when there's a funeral Is anything to be seen." The mother looks from her Bible: "Nay, only four in all Have died since thy father was buried Without by the churchyard wall." Then yawns the oldest daughter, "I will starve no longer here; I will go to the Count to-morrow, He is rich, and he loves me dear." The son bursts out a-laughing: "At the 'Star' three huntsmen drink deep; They are making gold, and they promise To give me their secret to keep." Toward his lean face, flings the mother Her Bible, in wrath and grief. "Out! God-forsaken beggar, Thou wilt be a common thief!" They hear a tap on the window, And behold a beckoning hand; There in his sable vestments They see the dead father stand.
Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), "Der bleiche, herbstliche Halbmond", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, pages 98-99, first published 1887 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 28
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: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 183