by Wilhelmine Gräfin Wickenburg-Almasy (1845 - 1890)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Die Horen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wie eilig die Horen, wie schnell sie entflieh'n ! Kaum denkst du sie weilen, so sind die dahin! Dan sucht sie vergebens dein forschender Blick, doch bleibt in der Seele ihr Bildnis zurück. Sie tanzen den Reih'ntanz auf neimliche Weis', sie kommen verschleiert, sie kommen so leis, sie tragen gar Manches im falt'gen Gewand, und allerlei Gaben verteilt ihre Hand; doch nehmen sie Vieles mit fort im Entflieh'n, verderben, zerstören, wo immer sie ziehn. Drum, birgst du im Innern ein kostbares Gut, sei froh, dass im Herzen verborgen es ruht. Verrate den Schatz nicht mit plauderndem Wort, sonst hören's die Horen und tragen ihn fort.
Authorship:
- by Wilhelmine Gräfin Wickenburg-Almasy (1845 - 1890) [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 Erich J. Wolff (1874 - 1913), "Die Horen", op. 12 (Neun Lieder) no. 2, published 1907 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "The Horae"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-16
Line count: 14
Word count: 105
The Horae
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The Horae are fickle, and swift is their flight: They come not to tarry but flee from your sight! Then vainly you seek them, you sigh and you grieve: engraved on your memory their image they leave. They dance and their singing to sorrow is wed, and veiled are their features, and soft is their tread, no mortal may know what their garments conceal: the gifts they distribute dread secrets reveal; destruction they bear, where a gift they bestow, and, sorrow they carry wherever they go. Then if in your heart you a secret conceal, o let not a word that fond treasure reveal. For if but a whisper your secret betray, the Horae will hear it, and bear it away.
From the Wolff score.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "The Horae" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelmine Gräfin Wickenburg-Almasy (1845 - 1890)
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: 2009-07-16
Line count: 14
Word count: 121