Am Seegestad’, in lauen Vollmondnächten
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
Denk ich nur dich!
Zu deines Namens goldnem Zug verflechten
Die Sterne sich.
Die Wildnis glänzt in ungewohnter Helle,
Von dir erfüllt;
Auf jedes Blatt in jede Schattenquelle
Malt sich dein holdes Bild.
Am Hüttchen dort bekränzt’ ich dir, umflossen
Von Abendglut,
Mit Immergrün und jungen Frühlingssprossen
Den Halmenhut.
Ihr schmelzend Mailied weinte Philomele
Im Uferhain;
Da fleht’ ich dir, im Blick die ganze Seele:
Gedenke mein!
By the lake shore, on warm moonlit nights
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I think only of you!
The stars intertwine
To spell your name in gold.
The wilderness gleams unwontedly bright,
Filled with you;
On every leaf, in every shady stream
Your lovely image is painted.
There by the little hut
In the evening glow
I wound a wreath of evergreens and fresh spring flowers
Round your straw bonnet.
Philomel wept her melting May song
In the grove by the shore;
There I begged you, my entire soul in my gaze:
Remember me!
Am Seegestad’, in lauen Vollmondnächten
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
By the lake shore, on warm moonlit nights
English source:
Richard Stokes
Am Seegestad’, in lauen Vollmondnächten,
By the lake shore, on warm moonlit nights,
Denk ich nur dich!
I think only of you!
Zu deines Namens goldnem Zug verflechten
The stars intertwine
Die Sterne sich.
To spell your name in gold.
Die Wildnis glänzt in ungewohnter Helle,
The wilderness gleams unwontedly bright,
Von dir erfüllt;
Filled with you;
Auf jedes Blatt in jede Schattenquelle
On every leaf, in every shady stream
Malt sich dein holdes Bild.
Your lovely image is painted.
Am Hüttchen dort bekränzt’ ich dir, umflossen
There by the little hut
Von Abendglut,
In the evening glow
Mit Immergrün und jungen Frühlingssprossen
I wound a wreath of evergreens and fresh spring flowers
Den Halmenhut.
Round your straw bonnet.
Ihr schmelzend Mailied weinte Philomele
Philomel wept her melting May song
Im Uferhain;
In the grove by the shore;
Da fleht’ ich dir, im Blick die ganze Seele:
There I begged you, my entire soul in my gaze:
Gedenke mein!
Remember me!
Composer
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847), brother of Fanny Mendelssohn and grandson of Haskalah and Enlightenment philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early…
Poet
Matthison, Friedrich von
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven. He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor,…