Dem Helden
German source:
Körner, Theodor
Es preist des Volks Gesang
Dich Hoher auf des Sieges Bahn,
Dein Schwert im Feindesdrang,
Die Taten all, die du getan,
Jauchzt dir der Freiheit Dank!
Und ob du fielst, so lang wir frei,
Sollst du den Tod nicht sehn,
Dein Blut, so edel, rein und treu
Darf nicht zur Erde gehn,
In unsern Adern fließt es neu,
Dein Geist mög in uns wehn!
Dein Name sei dem Heer Signal,
Rüstet’s zum Kampfe sich,
Und Jungfraun künden’s im Choral,
Daß unser Held erblich!
Es netze keine Trän dein Mal,
Wir klagen nicht um dich!
To the hero
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The songs of your people praise
The triumphs of their noble Son,
Praise your sword amid the hostile throng,
Praise the deeds that you have done,
Give you joyous thanks for the freedom won!
Though you are fallen, while we are free
You shall not come face to face with death,
Your blood, so noble, pure and true,
Shall not perish:
It shall course anew in our veins,
May your spirit blow within us!
May your name be your host’s battle word,
As it prepares for the struggle,
And may the choir of virgins announce
That our hero has perished!
Let no tear moisten your gravestone,
We shall not mourn for you!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Dem Helden
German source:
Körner, Theodor
To the hero
English source:
Richard Stokes
Dein Tag ist aus, dein Ruhm fing an,
Your days are done, your fame has begun;
Es preist des Volks Gesang
The songs of your people praise
Dich Hoher auf des Sieges Bahn,
The triumphs of their noble Son,
Dein Schwert im Feindesdrang,
Praise your sword amid the hostile throng,
Die Taten all, die du getan,
Praise the deeds that you have done,
Jauchzt dir der Freiheit Dank!
Give you joyous thanks for the freedom won!
Und ob du fielst, so lang wir frei,
Though you are fallen, while we are free
Sollst du den Tod nicht sehn,
You shall not come face to face with death,
Dein Blut, so edel, rein und treu
Your blood, so noble, pure and true,
Darf nicht zur Erde gehn,
Shall not perish:
In unsern Adern fließt es neu,
It shall course anew in our veins,
Dein Geist mög in uns wehn!
May your spirit blow within us!
Dein Name sei dem Heer Signal,
May your name be your host’s battle word,
Rüstet’s zum Kampfe sich,
As it prepares for the struggle,
Und Jungfraun künden’s im Choral,
And may the choir of virgins announce
Daß unser Held erblich!
That our hero has perished!
Es netze keine Trän dein Mal,
Let no tear moisten your gravestone,
Wir klagen nicht um dich!
We shall not mourn for you!
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.…