Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at 
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Geh! Gehorche meinen Winken, Nutze deine jungen Tage, Lerne zeitig klüger sein! Auf des Glückes großer Waage Steht die Zunge selten ein. Du mußt steigen oder sinken, Du mußt herrschen und gewinnen Oder dienen und verlieren, Leiden oder triumphieren, Amboß oder Hammer sein.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied (Ein Anderes)", written 1787 [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 Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Zweites Kophtisches Lied", op. 59 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3 (1892), published 1892 [baritone and piano], Brüssel, Schott [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Leo Grill (1846 - 1919?), "Ein anderes", op. 6 no. 3, published 1874 [baritone or low tenor and piano], from Gesellige Lieder von W. Göthe, für Bariton oder tiefen Tenor mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 3 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Nikolaus, Freiherr von Krufft (1779 - 1818), "Kophtisches Lied", c1814, published 1870, from Zwölf Lieder, no. 5 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1752 - 1814), "Kophtisches Lied", 1789, published 1796 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Ernest Vietor (flourished 1905-1930), "Koptisches Lied", op. 10 no. 4 (1933) [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Cophtisches Lied II", 1888, published 1891 [voice and piano], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 15, Mainz, Schott [ sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , copyright © [an adaptation] FRE ITA ; composed by Ralph Shapey.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Go, obey my message", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chanson copte (une autre)", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canzone copta II", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 43
Va ! Obéis à mon signe, Exploite tes jeunes années, Apprends tôt la sagesse ; Sur la grande balance du sort, L'aiguille s'immobilise rarement. Tu dois t'élever ou couler, Tu dois diriger et gagner, Ou servir et perdre, Souffrir ou triompher, Être l'enclume ou le marteau.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2012 by Pierre Mathé, (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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Cophtisches Lied (Ein Anderes)", written 1787
This text was added to the website: 2012-02-03
Line count: 10
Word count: 46