Eternal well-spring of purest joys

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by Johann Heinrich Julius Frauenstein (1815 - 1880)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ew'ge Quelle reinster Freuden

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ew'ge Quelle reinster Freuden,
Mild vom Zauberlicht durchwallt, 
Lebe wohl, wir müssen scheiden,
Lebe wohl, du schöner Wald!

Freundlich in des Tages Schwüle 
Winkest du dem Müden zu,
Und auf duft'gem Blumenpfühle
Wiegst du ihn in süsse Ruh'.

Schirme Gott dir deinen Frieden, 
Deine Schöne, grüner Wald!
Wenn auch längst von dir geschieden,
Denk' ich dein, du schöner Wald!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• F. Kamm

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Text Authorship:

by Johann Heinrich Julius Frauenstein (1815 - 1880) [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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Waldabschied", op. 374 (6 Lieder für S., A., Tenor und B.), Heft 1 no. 2, published 1870 [ SATB chorus ], Schleusingen, Glaser [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "Abschied vom Walde", op. 45 (Liedersaal für Frauenchor. 90 drei- und vierstimmige Lieder für Schule, Haus und Verein) no. 27, published 1896 [ ssaa chorus ], Zürich & Leipzig: Hug [sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-09-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

Eternal well‑spring of purest joys

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

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Eternal well-spring of purest joys,
Gently suffused with magical light,
Farewell, we must depart,
Farewell, you beautiful forest!

Amiably in the humidity of the day
You beckon to the weary one,
And upon a scented pillow of flowers
You rock him into sweet rest.

May God protect your peace for you,
[Protect] your beauty, green forest!
Even when I have long parted from you,
I think of you, you beautiful forest!

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Translations of titles:
"Abschied vom Walde" = "Parting from the forest"
"Waldabschied" = "Forest farewell"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (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.

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Heinrich Julius Frauenstein (1815 - 1880)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-11-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 71