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Die Dämmerung war längst hereingebrochen, Ich hatt dich nie gesehn, du tratst heran, Da hat dein Mund manch mildes Wort gesprochen In heil'gem Ernst, der dir mein Herz gewann. Still, wie du nahtest, hast du dich erhoben Und sanft uns allen gute Nacht gesagt, Dein Bild war tief von Finsternis umwoben, Nach deinem Namen hab ich nicht gefragt. Nun wird mein Auge nimmer dich erkennen, Wenn du auch einst vorübergehst an mir, Und hör' ich dich von fremder Lippe nennen, So sagt dein Name selbst mir nichts von dir. Und dennoth wirst du ewig in mir leben, Gleich wie ein Ton lebt in der stillen Luft, Und kann ich Form dir und Gestalt nicht geben, So reißt auch keine Form dich in die Gruft. Das Leben hat geheimnisvolle Stunden, Da tut selbstherrschend die Natur sich kund; Da bluten wir und fühlen keine Wunden, Da freu'n wir uns und freu'n uns ohne Grund. Vielleicht wird dann zu flüchtigstem Vereine Verwandtes dem Verwandten nah gerückt, Vielleicht, ich schaudre, jauchze oder weine, Ist's dein Empfinden, welches mich durchzückt.
Authorship
- by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863), "Auf eine Unbekannte" [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 Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Auf eine Unbekannte", op. 5 (6 Lieder) no. 3 (1861) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John H. Campbell) , "To an unknown", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sur une inconnue", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: John H. Campbell , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 175
The twilight had long passed, I could not see you, you walked along, Then, you had spoken some soft words In endearing seriousness, that won my heart. Quietly, we drew near, you rose And softly we said good night, Your visage was mask'd by the enveloping darkness, I did not ask for your name. Now, my eyes will never recognize you, If you once pass me by, And if I hear other lips say your name, So, that name will tell me nothing of you. And yet you will live eternally in me, As a sound lives in the quiet air, And as I cannot give shape and form to you, So, also no tears can place you in the tomb. Life has mysterious hours, When, nature itself knows my fate; Then we bleed but feel no wounds, We are happy then and pleased with no reason. Perhaps then these too-fleeting associations of familiar things will grow more familiar; If I tremble, rejoice or weep, It is memory of you, which helps me endure.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863), "Auf eine Unbekannte"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 174