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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 licenses@email.lieder.example.net

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Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Oben auf des Berges Spitze
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA SPA
Oben auf des Berges Spitze
Liegt das Schloß in Nacht gehüllt;
Doch im Tale leuchten Blitze,
Helle Schwerter klirren wild.

Das sind Brüder, die dort fechten
Grimmen Zweikampf, wutentbrannt.
Sprich, warum die Brüder rechten
Mit dem Schwerte in der Hand?

Gräfin Lauras Augenfunken
Zündeten den Brüderstreit.
Beide glühen liebestrunken
Für die adlig holde Maid.

Welchem aber von den beiden
Wendet sich ihr Herze zu?
Kein Ergrübeln kann's entscheiden -
Schwert heraus, entscheide du!

Und sie fechten kühn verwegen,
Hieb auf Hiebe niederkracht's.
Hütet euch, ihr wilden Degen.
[Böses Blendwerk schleicht des]1 Nachts.

Wehe! Wehe! blut'ge Brüder!
Wehe! Wehe! blut'ges Tal!
Beide Kämpfer stürzen nieder,
Einer in des andern Stahl. -

Viel Jahrhunderte verwehen,
Viel Geschlechter deckt das Grab;
Traurig von des Berges Höhen
Schaut das öde Schloß herab.

Aber nachts, im Talesgrunde,
Wandelt's heimlich, wunderbar;
Wenn da kommt die zwölfte Stunde,
Kämpfet dort das Brüderpaar.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   R. Schumann 

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schumann: "Grausig Blendwerk schleichet"

Text Authorship:

  • by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Zwei Brüder", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Junge Leiden, in Romanzen, no. 3 [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 Joseph Matthias Hubert Beltjens (1820 - 1909), "Die zwei Brüder : Ballade von H. Heine ", op. 2 [ baritone and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Die beiden Brüder", note: may be incorrect text for this title [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die feindlichen Brüder", op. 49 (Romanzen und Balladen für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 2 (1840), published 1844 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Wilhelm Wöhler , "Zwei Brüder: Romanze", op. 2 [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De vijandige broers", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Saúl Botero Restrepo) , copyright © 2016, (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: 32
Word count: 144

De vijandige broers
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Boven op der bergen spitsen
Ligt het slot, in nacht verstild;
Doch in 't dal, daar lichten flitsen,
Helle zwaarden beuken wild.
 
't Zijn gebroeders die daar vechten
'n Bitt're tweekamp, tand om tand.
Zeg waarom die broers toch rechten
Met de zwaarden in de hand?
 
Gravin Laura's ogenvonken
Heeft de tweestrijd aangejaagd.
Beiden gloeien liefdedronken
Voor de adellijke maagd.
 
Naar wie echter van de reuzen
Gaat haar voorkeur eigenlijk uit?
Eindloos piek'ren geeft geen keuze --
Zwaard, kom op, neem jij 't besluit!
 
En zij vechten driest, gespannen,
Houw na houw komt neergebonkt.
Pas toch op, gij woeste mannen;
Blinde rampspoed sluipt 's nachts rond.
 
Wee u, wee u, broers zo bloedig!
Wee u, bloedig bacchanaal!
Beide strijders sterven moedig,
Beiden in elkanders staal. --
 
Vele eeuwen zijn we verder,
Veel geslachten zijn niet meer;
Treurig kijkt van hoge bergen
't Dode slot op 't dal terneer.
 
Maar dan 's nachts, daar in de laagte
Komt beweging, vreemd maar waar:
Als het twaalf uur heeft geslagen,
Vecht daar weer het broederpaar.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2012 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


    If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net


Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Zwei Brüder", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Junge Leiden, in Romanzen, no. 3
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2012-10-05
Line count: 32
Word count: 170

Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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