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Freunde, deren Grüfte sich schon bemoosten! [Wann]1 der Vollmond über dem Walde dämmert, Schweben eure Schatten empor vom stillen Ufer der Lethe. Seid mir, Unvergeßliche, froh gesegnet! Du vor Allen, welcher im Buch' der Menschheit Mir der Hieroglyphen so viel gedeutet, Redlicher Bonnet! Längst verschlürft im Strudel der Brandung wäre Wohl mein Fahrzeug oder am Riff zerschmettert, Hättet ihr nicht, Genien gleich, im Sturme Schirmend gewaltet. Wiedersehn der Liebenden! wo der Heimath Goldne Sterne leuchten, o du der armen Psyche, die gebunden im Grabthal schmachtet, [Heiligste]2 Sehnsucht!
Confirmed with Gedichte von Matthisson. Fünfte vermehrte Auflage. Zürich, bei Orell, Füssli und Compagnie. 1802, pages 64-65; and with Gedichte von Friedrich von Matthisson. Zweiter Theil. Tübingen, bei Cotta, 1811, page 103.
First published in Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1799, herausgegeben von Schiller, Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaischen Buchhandlung, page 143 (only stanza 1-3).
1 Matthisson (1811 edition): "Wenn"2 Schubert: "Himmlische"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Die Schatten", written c1797, first published 1799 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die Schatten", D 50 (1813), published 1894 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Les ombres", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De schimmen", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The shadows", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Les ombres", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 87
Vrienden, in je groen reeds bemoste graven! Als de volle maan boven het woud gaat glanzen, Zweven jullie schimmen omhoog Van de1 stille oever der Lethe. 'k Geef u, onvergeet'lijken, blij mijn zegen! Jou vóór allen, die in het boek der mensheid Zoveel hiëroglyfen mij hebt ontraadseld, Deugdzame Bonnet! Lang vergaan in 't kolken der branding Zou wel zijn mijn scheepje, Of op een rif verpletterd, Als jullie niet, geesten gelijk, In de2 storm mij hadden geborgen! Weer te zien, weer te zien de dierbaren! Waar van thuis de gouden sterren lichten. O jij, van d' arme Psyche, Die gebonden in 't doodsdal hunkert, Hemels verlangen!
1 Van de: te zingen op de laatste twee kwartnoten in deze maat.
2 In de: te zingen op twee achtste noten
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2010 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Die Schatten", written c1797, first published 1799
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-22
Line count: 18
Word count: 106