What I love and what I seek

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

In der Hütte am Berg

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

"Was ich lieb und was ich bitte,
Gönnen mir die Menschen nicht,
Darum, kleine, moosge Hütte,
Meid ich so des Tages Licht.

Bein herauf zu dir gekommen,
Wo ich oft der Welt vergaß,
Gerne sinnend bei dem frommen
Roten Kerzenschimmer saß.

Weil ich drunet mich veliere
In dem Treiben bang undhohl,
Schließe dich, du kleine Türe,
Und mir werde wieder wohl!"

So der Einsamkeit gegeben,
Hing ich alten Träumen nach,
Doch der Flamme ruhig Weben
Trost in meine Trauer sprach.

-- Leise, wie durch Geisterhände,
Öffnet sich die Rüre bald,
Und es tritt in meine Wände
Eine liebliche Gestalt.

Was ich lieb und was ich flehte,
Freundlich, schüchtern vor mir stand,
Ohne Sinn und ohne Rede
Hielt ich die geliebte Hand;

Fühle Locken bald und Wange
Sanft ans Antlitz mir gelegt,
Während sich im sel'gen Drange
Träne mir um Träne regt.

-- Freundlich Bild im himmelblauen
Kleide mit dem Silbersaum!
Werde nimmer so dich schauen,
Und mich täuschte nur ein Traum.

Text Authorship:

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "In der Hütte am Berg" [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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "In der Hütte am Berg", 2010 [bass-baritone and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 159

What I love and what I seek

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

"What I love and what I seek,
Many often begrudge me;
For this, small mossy hut,
I so avoid the light of day.

I am come here then
Where I can leave behind the world,
And willingly sit and think by
The pious red glow of candle light.

Because down there I lose myself
In the anxious and hollow bustle,
Shut yourself behind me, little door,
And I will refresh myself again."

There, given over to solitude,
I have dwelt on old dreams,
For the gentle weaving of the flame
Spoke consolation in my sorrow.

Softly, as if by ghostly hands,
soon another door will open
and into these four walls will appear
Again that pleasing form.

What I love and that for which I have plead
friendly, shyly has stood before me.
Without thinking, without speaking
I have taken the beloved's hand.

I have felt the locks of hair and a cheek
Gently laid against my face
While in blessed urgency
Those tears moved me to tears.

Pleasant image in sky-blue
Raiment hemmed with silver,
I will never so behold you,
As when deceived by this dream.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "In der Hütte am Berg"
- Go to the text page.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 188