by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Nun ist es Zeit, daß ich mit Verstand
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): FRE
Nun ist es Zeit, daß ich mit Verstand mich aller Torheit entledge; ich hab so lang als ein Komödiant mit dir gespielt die Komödie. Die prächtgen Kulissen, sie waren bemalt im hochromantischen Stile, mein Rittermantel hat goldig gestrahlt, ich fühlte die feinsten Gefühle. Und nun ich mich gar säuberlich des tollen Tands entledge, noch immer elend fühl ich mich, als spielt ich noch immer Komödie. Ach Gott! im Scherz und unbewußt sprach ich was ich gefühlet; ich hab mit dem Tod in der eignen Brust den sterbenden Fechter gespielet.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 44 [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 Akhilles Nikolayevich Alferaki (1846 - 1919), "Nun ist es Zeit, daß ich mit Verstand", op. 4 (Trois Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 2, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff, also set in French (Français) [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Friedrich) August Bungert (1845 - 1915), "Nun ist es Zeit, daß ich mit Verstand", op. 11 no. 4, published 1876 [ medium voice and piano ], from Junge Leiden : Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Berlin, Luckhardt [sung text not yet checked]
- by Tilo Medek (1940 - 2006), "Der Fechter", 1975 [ baritone and piano ], from Heinrich-Heine-Lieder (1968/89): zwölf Lieder [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ludwig Rottenberg (1864 - 1932), "Nun ist es Zeit", published 1914, from Zwölf Lieder von Heinrich Heine, no. 7 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Nun ist es Zeit, daß ich mit Verstand", published 1851, from Die Heimkehr : 88 Gedichte aus H. Heine's Reisebildern, no. 44 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Jules Ruelle (1834 - 1892) ; composed by Akhilles Nikolayevich Alferaki.
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Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Aleksander Kraushar) , "Czas już nareszcie", Warsaw, first published 1880
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 89
'Tis time that, more sober and serious...
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
'Tis time that, more sober and serious grown, From folly at last I break free. I, who so long in comedian's gown, Have played in the play with thee. The scenes gaily painted were bright to behold, Amd in ultra-romantic tints shone. My knightly, rich mantle was spangled with gold; Noblest feelings were ever mine own. But now with grave trouble my thoughts are beset, Although from the stage I depart; And my heart is as wretchedly miserable yet, As though I still acted my part. Ah God! all unwitting and wholly in jest, What I felt and I suffered I told. I have fought against Death who abode in my breast Like the dying wrestler of old.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 44
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 text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 118