Der Jüngling auf dem Hügel
German source:
Heinrich Hüttenbrenner
Mit seinem Kummer sass;
Wohl ward der Augen Spiegel
Ihm trüb’ und tränennass.
Sah frohe Lämmer spielen
Am grünen Felsenhang,
Sah frohe Bächlein quillen
Das bunte Tal entlang;
Die Schmetterlinge sogen
Am roten Blütenmund,
Wie Morgenträume flogen
Die Wolken in dem Rund;
Und Alles war so munter
Und Alles schwamm in Glück,
Nur in sein Herz hinunter
Sah nicht der Freude Blick.
Ach! dumpfes Grabgeläute
Im Dorfe nun erklang,
Schon tönte aus der Weite
Ein klagender Gesang;
Sah nun die Lichter scheinen,
Den schwarzen Leichenzug,
Fing bitter an zu weinen,
Weil man sein Röschen trug.
Jetzt liess den Sarg man nieder,
Der Totengräber kam,
Und gab der Erde wieder,
Was Gott aus selber nahm.
Da schwieg des Jünglings Klage,
Und betend ward sein Blick,
Sah schon am schönern Tage
Des Wiedersehens Glück.
Und wie die Sterne kamen,
Der Mond heraufgeschifft,
Da las er in den Sternen
Der Hoffnung hohe Schrift.
The youth on the hill
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
with his sorrow;
his eyes grew dim
and moist with tears.
He watched lambs gambolling
happily on the green hillside,
and brooks rippling merrily
through the bright valley.
Butterflies sipped
at the red mouth of the flowers;
clouds scudded about
like morning dreams.
And everything was so cheerful,
bathed in happiness;
his heart alone
was untouched by the light of joy.
Ah, just now the muffled death-knell
sounded in the village,
and in the distance
a mournful song echoed.
Then he saw the lights shining,
and the black cortège;
he began to weep bitterly,
for they were bearing his little Rose.
Then they lowered the coffin;
the gravedigger came
and restored to the earth
what God once took from it.
Then the youth ceased lamenting,
and his eyes were fixed in prayer;
already he saw that fair day
when they would be reunited in joy.
And as the stars came out
and the moon sailed heavenwards,
he read in those stars high above
a message of hope.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Der Jüngling auf dem Hügel
German source:
Heinrich Hüttenbrenner
The youth on the hill
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Ein Jüngling auf dem Hügel
A youth sat on the hill
Mit seinem Kummer sass;
with his sorrow;
Wohl ward der Augen Spiegel
his eyes grew dim
Ihm trüb’ und tränennass.
and moist with tears.
Sah frohe Lämmer spielen
He watched lambs gambolling
Am grünen Felsenhang,
happily on the green hillside,
Sah frohe Bächlein quillen
and brooks rippling merrily
Das bunte Tal entlang;
through the bright valley.
Die Schmetterlinge sogen
Butterflies sipped
Am roten Blütenmund,
at the red mouth of the flowers;
Wie Morgenträume flogen
clouds scudded about
Die Wolken in dem Rund;
like morning dreams.
Und Alles war so munter
And everything was so cheerful,
Und Alles schwamm in Glück,
bathed in happiness;
Nur in sein Herz hinunter
his heart alone
Sah nicht der Freude Blick.
was untouched by the light of joy.
Ach! dumpfes Grabgeläute
Ah, just now the muffled death-knell
Im Dorfe nun erklang,
sounded in the village,
Schon tönte aus der Weite
and in the distance
Ein klagender Gesang;
a mournful song echoed.
Sah nun die Lichter scheinen,
Then he saw the lights shining,
Den schwarzen Leichenzug,
and the black cortège;
Fing bitter an zu weinen,
he began to weep bitterly,
Weil man sein Röschen trug.
for they were bearing his little Rose.
Jetzt liess den Sarg man nieder,
Then they lowered the coffin;
Der Totengräber kam,
the gravedigger came
Und gab der Erde wieder,
and restored to the earth
Was Gott aus selber nahm.
what God once took from it.
Da schwieg des Jünglings Klage,
Then the youth ceased lamenting,
Und betend ward sein Blick,
and his eyes were fixed in prayer;
Sah schon am schönern Tage
already he saw that fair day
Des Wiedersehens Glück.
when they would be reunited in joy.
Und wie die Sterne kamen,
And as the stars came out
Der Mond heraufgeschifft,
and the moon sailed heavenwards,
Da las er in den Sternen
he read in those stars high above
Der Hoffnung hohe Schrift.
a message of hope.
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
Heinrich Hüttenbrenner
Heinrich Hüttenbrenner was a member of the musical Austrian family, memorable for its connection with Beethoven and Schubert. He studied Law at Graz and the University of Vienna, eventually securing a position as Professor of Roman and…