An den Mond
German source:
Körner, Theodor
Dein tränenvoller Strahl erzittert fern,
Du offenbarst die Nacht, die dir nicht weicht—
O wie du ganz des Glücks Erinn’rung gleichst!
So glänzt auch längst vergangner Tage Licht,
Es scheint, doch wärmt sein schwaches Leuchten nicht,
Der Gram sieht wohl des Sterns Gestalt,
Scharf, aber fern, so klar, doch ach! wie kalt!
To the moon
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Your tear-stained rays tremble afar,
You revealed the darkness that you cannot dispel—
O how you are the image of remembered bliss!
So gleams the light of distant days now past:
It shines but gives no warmth with its faint gleam;
Sorrow observes the shape of that star,
Distinct but distant, so clear but ah! how cold!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
An den Mond
German source:
Körner, Theodor
To the moon
English source:
Richard Stokes
Schlafloser Sonne! melanchol’scher Stern!
Sun of the sleepless! melancholy star!
Dein tränenvoller Strahl erzittert fern,
Your tear-stained rays tremble afar,
Du offenbarst die Nacht, die dir nicht weicht—
You revealed the darkness that you cannot dispel—
O wie du ganz des Glücks Erinn’rung gleichst!
O how you are the image of remembered bliss!
So glänzt auch längst vergangner Tage Licht,
So gleams the light of distant days now past:
Es scheint, doch wärmt sein schwaches Leuchten nicht,
It shines but gives no warmth with its faint gleam;
Der Gram sieht wohl des Sterns Gestalt,
Sorrow observes the shape of that star,
Scharf, aber fern, so klar, doch ach! wie kalt!
Distinct but distant, so clear but ah! how cold!
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
Poet
Körner, Theodor
Karl Theodor Körner was a German poet and soldier. After some time in Vienna, where he wrote some light comedies and other works for the Burgtheater, he became a soldier and joined the Lützow Free Corps in the German uprising against Napoleon.…