Text & Translation
An den Tod
German source:
Schubart, Christian
Immer rieselt deine Uhr:
Die geschwung’ne Sense blinkt,
Gras, und Halm und Blume sinkt.
Mähe nicht ohn’ Unterschied,
Dieses Blümchen, das erst blüht,
Dieses Röschen, erst halbrot;
Sei barmherzig, lieber Tod!
To Death
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
your hour-glass trickles ceaselessly;
the swinging scythe flashes,
grass, stalk and flower fall.
Do not mow down indiscriminately
this little flower just bloomed,
this rose half-opened;
be merciful, dear death!
An den Tod
German source:
Schubart, Christian
To Death
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Tod, du Schrecken der Natur,
Death, terror of nature,
Immer rieselt deine Uhr:
your hour-glass trickles ceaselessly;
Die geschwung’ne Sense blinkt,
the swinging scythe flashes,
Gras, und Halm und Blume sinkt.
grass, stalk and flower fall.
Mähe nicht ohn’ Unterschied,
Do not mow down indiscriminately
Dieses Blümchen, das erst blüht,
this little flower just bloomed,
Dieses Röschen, erst halbrot;
this rose half-opened;
Sei barmherzig, lieber Tod!
be merciful, dear death!
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Schubart, Christian
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart, was a German poet, organist, composer, and journalist. He was repeatedly punished for his writing and spent ten years in severe conditions in jail. Born at Obersontheim in Swabia, he entered the University of…