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Weil lechzend meine Lipp' an deinem Kelch gesogen, Weil meine bleiche Stirn in deinen Händen lag; Weil deines Odems Duft mein Odem eingesogen, Weil ich an meiner Brust gefühlt der deinen Schlag; Weil mir's gegeben ward, daß ich dich sagen hörte Die Worte, die das Herz ausspricht mit heil'gem Flehn; Weil, heiß in meines glüh'nd, dein Auge mir gewährte, Froh lächeln dich zu sehn, und weinen dich zu sehn: Weil auf mein lockig Haupt, das, ach! nur selten helle, Ein Strahl schien deines Sterns mit wunderbarem Glanz, Und weil ich fallen sah in meines Lebens Welle Ein prangend Rosenblatt aus deiner Tage Kranz; So kann ich sagen jetzt: -- Vorüber, flücht'ge Jahre! All' eure Blumen schon sind welk! ich bin ein Mann, Der nimmer älter wird, der eine wunderbare Blum' in der Seele trägt, die keiner brechen kann! Streift euer Flügel auch, doch bricht er nicht, der rasche, Die Schale, deren Born mir ew'ge Labe beut; Mehr Gluth hat meine Seel', als ihr besitzet Asche; Mehr Liebe hat mein Herz, als ihr Vergessenheit!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Ferdinand Freiligrath's gesammelte Dichtungen, Fünfte Auflage, Vierter Band, Stuttgart: G.J. Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung, 1886, page 257.
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Weil lechzend meine Lipp' an deinem Kelch gesogen", appears in Victor Hugo. Lyrische Gedichte, Auswahl, in Aus den Oden und vermischten Gedichten [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, written 1835, appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 25, Paris, Éd. L. Hachette, first published 1857
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Walter von Goethe (1817 - 1885), "Ewige Jugend" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 172
Because my lips drank thirstily from your goblet, Because my pale brow rested in your hands; Because my breath inhaled the scent of your breath, Because I felt the beating of your heart against my breast; Because it was given to me to hear you say The words that a heart speaks with holy pleading; Because, fervently glowing into my eyes, your eyes granted me The privilege of seeing you smiling happily and seeing you weep: Because upon my curly head that ah! is only rarely bright, A beam from your star shone with wondrous radiance, And because, falling into the wave of my life, I saw A glorious rose-petal from the wreath of your days; Therefore, I can now say: -- Go hence, fleeting years! All of your flowers are already wilted! I am a man Who never ages, who carries a wondrous Flower in his soul, [a flower] that no one can pluck! Though your pinions, the rapid ones, may graze the chalice Whose font offers me eternal refreshment, yet it does not break; My soul has more ardour than you have ashes; My heart has more love than you have oblivion!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Ewige Jugend" = "Eternal youth"
"Weil lechzend meine Lipp' an deinem Kelch gesogen" = "Weil lechzend meine Lipp' an deinem Kelch gesogen"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Weil lechzend meine Lipp' an deinem Kelch gesogen", appears in Victor Hugo. Lyrische Gedichte, Auswahl, in Aus den Oden und vermischten Gedichten
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, written 1835, appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 25, Paris, Éd. L. Hachette, first published 1857
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 193