Woher, o namenloses Sehnen,
Das den beklemmten Busen preßt?
Woher, ihr bittersüßen Thränen,
Die ihr das Auge dämmernd näßt?
O Abendroth, o [Mondenblitz]1,
Flimmt blasser um den Lindensitz!

Es säuselt in dem Laub der Linde;
Es [flistert]2 im Akazienstrauch.
Mir schmeichelt süß, mir schmeichelt linde
Des grauen Abends lauer Hauch.
Es spricht um mich, wie Geistergruß;
Es weht mich an, wie Engelkuß.

Es glänzt, es glänzt im Nachtgefilde,
Der Linde [graue]2 Scheitel bebt -
Verklärte himmlische Gebilde,
Seyd ihr es, die ihr mich umschwebt?
Ich fühle eures Athems Kuß,
O Julie! o Emilius!

Bleibt Sel'ge, bleibt in eurem Eden!
Des Lebens Hauch bläst schwer und schwül
Durch stumme leichenvolle Öden.
Elysium ist mild und kühl.
Elysium ist wonnevoll -
Fahrt wohl, ihr Trauten! fahret wohl!

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with L. T. Kosegarten's Poesieen, Neueste Auflage, Dritter Band, Berlin 1803, pages 201-202. This is the source used by Schubert. Kosegarten's poem is slightly different in later editions (see below).

Note: a 2016 Muzibook Publishing edition of Schubert songs has a typo ("leidenvolle") in line 4-3.

¹ Kosegarten (Leipzig 1802 edition): "Morgenblitz" (the errata section of the 1802 edition changes this to "Mondenblitz", however)
² Schubert: "flüstert"
³ Schubert (D. 235 only): "grauer"

Authorship

• by Ludwig Gotthard Theobul Kosegarten (1758 - 1818), "Abends unter der Linde" [author's text checked 2 times 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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Abends unter der Linde", D 235 (1815), published 1894 [ voice, piano ], first setting [sung text checked 1 time]
• by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Abends unter der Linde", D 237 (1815), published 1872 [ voice, piano ], second setting [sung text checked 1 time]

Another version of this text exists in the database.

• Go to the text. [ view differences ]
  

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

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Capvespre sota el til·ler", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "'s Avonds onder de linde", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Evening under the linden tree", copyright ©
• FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Soirée sous le tilleul", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Gino Taschini) , "Sera sotto il tiglio", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• SPA Spanish (Español) (José Miguel Llata) , "Atardecer bajo el tilo", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this text: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 125

Where do you come from, o nameless yearning
that presses on my anxious breast?
Where do you come from, you bittersweet tears
that darken my wet eyes?
O evening glow, o moonlight,
shine more palely about the linden seat!

The leaves of the linden rustle;
the acacia bush is whispering.
Sweetly, gently I am caressed
by the breath of the grey evening.
Ghostly voices are speaking around me
like the kisses of an angel.

The fields are glowing in the night,
the top of the linden quivers -
transfigured, heavenly forms,
is it you who float about me?
I feel your kiss-like breath,
o Julie, o Emilius!

Remain, blessed ones, remain in your Eden!
The breath of life blows heavy and sweltering
through silent wastelands of the Dead.
Elysium is placid and cool.
Elysium is delightful - 
so fare you well, dear ones, fare you well!