by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Wer auf den Wogen schliefe
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE FRE ITA
Wer auf den Wogen schliefe,
ein sanft gewiegtes Kind,
kennt nicht des Lebens Tiefe,
vor süßem Träumen blind.

Doch wen die Stürme fassen
zu wildem Tanz und Fest,
wen hoch auf dunklen Straßen
die falsche Welt verläßt:

Der lernt sich wacker rühren,
durch Nacht und Klippen hin -
lernt der das Steuer führen
mit sichrem, ernstem Sinn.

Der ist von echtem Kerne,
erprobt zu Lust und Pein,
der glaubt an Gott und Sterne,
der soll mein Schiffmann sein!

About the headline (FAQ)

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):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L'amic", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The friend", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'ami", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Stéphane Goldet) (Pierre de Rosamel) , "L'ami", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "L'amico", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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: 77

The friend
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 He who can sleep upon the waves
 is a gently lulled infant,
 who knows nothing of life's depths
 and is blind from sweet dreams.
 
 But he whom the storms grab
 for their wild dance and festival,
 whom, high upon the dark streets
 abandons the false world,
 
 he learns to move bravely
 through the night and navigate the cliffs -
 he learns to steer the helm
 with a confident and serious mind.
 
 He is of authentic heart,
 tried by joy and pain;
 he believes in God and the stars -
 this man shall be my helmsman!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94