by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Zum Sehen geboren
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Zum [Sehen]1 geboren,
Zum Schauen bestellt,
Dem Turme geschworen
Gefällt mir die Welt.
Ich blick' in die Ferne,
Ich seh' in der Näh'
Den Mond und die Sterne,
Den Wald und das Reh.

So seh' ich in allen
Die ewige Zier,
Und wie mir's gefallen,
Gefall' ich auch mir.
Ihr glücklichen Augen,
Was je ihr gesehn,
Es sei, was es wolle,
Es war doch so schön!

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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Lassen: "Schenken"; further changes may exist not shown above.

Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Voor turen geboren", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Born to watch", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de Lyncée, le veilleur", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Linceo della torre", copyright © 2006, (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: 16
Word count: 66

Voor turen geboren
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Voor turen geboren,
De wacht toegedaan,
Verknocht aan de toren
Bevalt mij 't bestaan.
Ik zie al het verre,
Dichtbij zie 'k voor twee,
De maan en de sterren,
Het woud en het ree.
 
Ik zie in hen allen
De eeuwige pracht.
Zo 't mij is bevallen,
Heb 'k mij ook geacht.
Gelukkige ogen,
Wat ooit je maar zag,
Reëel of bedrogen,
't Verveelde geen dag!

Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2013 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:


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2013-05-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 66