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Nächtlich am Busento lispeln bei Cosenza dumpfe Lieder Aus den Wassern schallt es Antwort, und in Wirbeln klingt es wider! Und den Fluß hinauf, hinunter ziehn die Schatten tapfrer Goten, Die den Alarich beweinen, ihres Volkes besten Toten. Allzufrüh und fern der Heimat mußten hier sie ihn begraben, Während noch die Jugendlocken seine Schulter blond umgaben. Und am Ufer des Busento reihten sie sich um die Wette, Um die Strömung abzuleiten, gruben sie ein frisches Bette In der wogenleeren Höhlung wühlten sie empor die Erde, Senkten tief heinein den Leichnam mit der Rüstung auf dem Pferde; Deckten dann mit Erde wieder ihn und seine stolze Habe, Daß die hohen Stromgewächse wüchsen aus dem Heldengrabe. Abgelenkt zum zweiten Male, ward der Fluß herbeigezogen, Mächtig in ihr altes Bette schäumten die Busentowogen. Und es sang ein Chor von Männern: «Schlaf in deinen Heldenehren! Keines Römers schnöde Habsucht Soll dir je dein Grab versehren!» Sangen's, und die Lobgesänge tönten fort im Gotenheere; Wälze sie, Busentowelle, wälze sie von Meer zu Meere!
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Authorship:
- by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "Das Grab im Busento", written 1820 [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 Friedrich Gernsheim (1839 - 1916), "Das Grab im Busento", op. 52 [ men's chorus and orchestra ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Timothy Hoekman , "Das Grab im Busento", 2007, published 2012 [ bass and piano ], from Drei Legenden, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Friedrich) Wilhelm Langhans (1832 - 1892), "Das Grab im Busento", op. 12 no. 2, published 1886 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Baptist Zerlett (1859 - 1935), "Das Grab am Busento", op. 112, published 1892 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Walter Meyer) , "The Grave in the Busento", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-02
Line count: 36
Word count: 168
At Cosenza nightly lisping, from Busento muted songs, Answer echoing from the waters with its trills each note prolongs. Each way, up and down the river valliant Goths their shadows cast, Grieving o'er their leader Alaric, now in death still unsurpassed. All too soon and far from home would he be laid to final rest With his shoulders, face and neck by locks of youth still blond, caressed. And along Busento's banks feverishly in turns they raced To divert the river's current; a new riverbed they traced. In the hollow, fully drained a still deeper bed they forced; Lowered deep into this trench the dead warrior, armed and horsed; Then again with earth they covered him with his possessions brave, That the tall grass from the river grow out from the hero's grave. For a second time diverted to restore the river's home, With full force in their old bed Busento's billows sprayed their foam. And a choir of men were singing, "Sleep an honored hero's slumber! Never shall vile Roman greed your final resting place encumber!" This they sang; the hymns of praise resounded from the Gothic host; Speed them on, Busento billows, speed them on from coast to coast!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Walter Meyer, (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. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "Das Grab im Busento", written 1820
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-02
Line count: 36
Word count: 201