Text & Translation
Die Sternennächte
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Mit dem Geschick zu rechten,
Hat diese Brust verlernt.
Der Himmel, reich gestirnt,
Umwoget mich mit Frieden,
Da denk ich, auch hienieden
Gedeihet manche Blume.
Und frischer schaut der stumme,
Sonst trübe Blick hinauf
Zum ew’gen Sternenlauf.
Auf ihnen bluten Herzen,
Auf ihnen quälen Schmerzen,
Sie aber strahlen heiter.
So schließ ich selig weiter,
Auch unsre kleine Erde,
Voll Misston und Gefährde,
Sich als ein heiter Licht
In’s Diadem verflicht,
So werden Sterne
Durch die Ferne.
Starry nights
English translation ©
Malcolm Wren
Trying to challenge fate
Is something that my breast has given up.
The sky, richly star spangled,
Swirls around me in peace.
Then I think: Even down here
Many flowers flourish;
And, more cheerfully I turn my silent
(Though imprecise) gaze upwards
Towards the course of the eternal stars.
On them hearts bleed,
On them pain is suffered –
But they shine cheerfully.
Thus, contented I go on to conclude:
Our small earth, too,
Full of discord and danger,
Appears as a cheerful light
Woven into the diadem.
That is what stars become
Across a distance!
Source: schubertsong.uk
Die Sternennächte
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Starry nights
English source:
Malcolm Wren
In monderhellten Nächten,
On moonlit nights
Mit dem Geschick zu rechten,
Trying to challenge fate
Hat diese Brust verlernt.
Is something that my breast has given up.
Der Himmel, reich gestirnt,
The sky, richly star spangled,
Umwoget mich mit Frieden,
Swirls around me in peace.
Da denk ich, auch hienieden
Then I think: Even down here
Gedeihet manche Blume.
Many flowers flourish;
Und frischer schaut der stumme,
And, more cheerfully I turn my silent
Sonst trübe Blick hinauf
(Though imprecise) gaze upwards
Zum ew’gen Sternenlauf.
Towards the course of the eternal stars.
Auf ihnen bluten Herzen,
On them hearts bleed,
Auf ihnen quälen Schmerzen,
On them pain is suffered –
Sie aber strahlen heiter.
But they shine cheerfully.
So schließ ich selig weiter,
Thus, contented I go on to conclude:
Auch unsre kleine Erde,
Our small earth, too,
Voll Misston und Gefährde,
Full of discord and danger,
Sich als ein heiter Licht
Appears as a cheerful light
In’s Diadem verflicht,
Woven into the diadem.
So werden Sterne
That is what stars become
Durch die Ferne.
Across a distance!
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
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…