Die Sterbende
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG FRE
Geläute schallt vom Turm herab,
Es ruft der Tod, es gähnt ein Grab.
Ihr sünd'gen Menschen, zum Gebet!
Ein gleiches Los bevor euch steht.
Im Sterben liegt ein schönes Weib,
Sie weint um ihren jungen Leib,
Sie weint um ihre sünd'ge Lust,
Sie ringt die Hände, sie schlägt ihre Brust.
Es harrt des Ausgangs ihr Gemahl,
Blickt starr und kalt auf ihre Qual;
Sie windet sich in dieser Stund
Zu seinen Füßen, sie öffnet den Mund:
«Vergib mir, Gott, in deiner Huld,
Vergib, Gemahl, mir meine Schuld;
Ich klag es an in bittrer Reu,
Weh mir! ich brach geschworne Treu.» --
«Vertrauen ist Vertrauen wert,
Und machst du mir kund, wie du mich entehrt,
So mach ich dir kund in deiner Not,
Du stirbst am Gift, das ich dir bot.»
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The dying woman", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La mourante", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-08
Line count: 20
Word count: 129
The dying woman
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The sound of pealing bells rings down from the tower,
Death calls, a grave opens its maw.
You sinful people, come to prayer!
The same fate awaits you too.
A beautiful woman is lying in her death throes,
She weeps for her young body,
She weeps for her sinful passion,
She wrings her hands, she beats her breast.
Waiting for her end is her husband,
Rigid and cold he gazes upon her agony;
At this hour she is writhing
At his feet, she opens her mouth:
"Forgive me, God, in your benevolence,
Forgive, husband, my transgression;
I condemn it with bitter remorse,
Woe unto me! I broke the faith that I had sworn." --
"Trust is worthy of trust,
And since you reveal to me how you dishonoured me,
So I reveal to you in your agony,
You are dying of the poison that I gave you."
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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:
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-17
Line count: 20
Word count: 146