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Schönste Tugend einer Seele, Reinster Quell der Zärtlichkeit! Mehr als Biron, als Pamele Ideal und Seltenheit! Wenn ein andres Feuer brennet, Flieht dein zärtlich schwaches Licht; Dich fühlt nur, wer dich nicht kennet, Wer dich kennt, der fühlt dich nicht. Göttin, in dem Paradiese Lebtest du mit uns vereint; Noch erscheinst du mancher Wiese Morgens, eh die Sonne scheint. Nur der sanfte Dichter siehet Dich im Nebelkleide ziehn; Phöbus kömmt, der Nebel fliehet, Und im Nebel bist du hin.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An die Unschuld" [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 Bernhard Theodor Breitkopf (1749 - 1820), "An die Unschuld", published 1770. [text not verified]
- by Johann Xaver Sterkel (1750 - 1817), "Unschuld" [voice and piano], from Sechs Gedichte von Goethe mit Clavierbegleitung, no. 3, Bonn und Cöln, Nikolaus Simrock [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "À l'innocence", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 79
Plus belle vertu de l'âme, Plus pure source de tendresse ! Plus que Byron, que Paméla Idéal et miracle ! Si une autre flamme brûle, Ta délicate et faible lumière s'enfuit, Seul te sent celui qui ne te connaît pas, Celui qui te connaît ne te sent pas. Déesse au paradis Tu vivais unie avec nous ; Tu apparais encore sur mainte prairie, Le matin, avant que ne brille le soleil. Seul le tendre poète te voit Passer dans un habit de brume ; Phoebus arrive, la brume s'enfuit, Et dans la brume tu t'en vas.
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "An die Unschuld"
This text was added to the website: 2012-09-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 96