Text & Translation
Fragment aus dem Aeschylus
Greek source:
August Lafontaine
Nicht unglücklich sein, versinken ganz in Elend kann er nimmer;
Indes der frevelnde Verbrecher im Strome der Zeit
Gewaltsam untergeht, wenn am zerschmetterten Maste
Das Wetter die Segel ergreift.
Er ruft, von keinem Ohr vernommen,
Kämpft in des Strudels Mitte, hoffnungslos.
Des Frevlers lacht die Gottheit nun,
Sieht ihn, nun nicht mehr stolz,
In Banden der Not verstrickt,
Umsonst die Felsbank fliehn;
An der Vergeltung Fels scheitert sein Glück,
Und unbeweint versinkt er.
_Translated from the original Greek by Aeschylus._
_This poem is often misattributed to Johann Mayrhofer (1787-1836), but it has recently been discovered that this poem is in fact the work of August Lafontaine (1758 - 1831)._
Fragment from Aeschylus
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
will not be unhappy; he can never sink completely into misery.
Whereas in the river of time the wicked criminal
is swept under violently when the storm tears the sails
from the shattered mast.
He cries out, but no ear hears him;
he struggles hopelessly in the midst of the maelstrom.
Now the gods mock the evildoer,
and behold him, no longer proud,
enmeshed in the toils of distress,
fleeing in vain the rocky reef;
on the cliffs of vengeance his fortune is wrecked,
and unmourned he sinks.
Fragment aus dem Aeschylus
Greek source:
August Lafontaine
Fragment from Aeschylus
English source:
Richard Wigmore
So wird der Mann, der sonder Zwang gerecht ist,
Thus the man who is by nature just
Nicht unglücklich sein, versinken ganz in Elend kann er nimmer;
will not be unhappy; he can never sink completely into misery.
Indes der frevelnde Verbrecher im Strome der Zeit
Whereas in the river of time the wicked criminal
Gewaltsam untergeht, wenn am zerschmetterten Maste
is swept under violently when the storm tears the sails
Das Wetter die Segel ergreift.
from the shattered mast.
Er ruft, von keinem Ohr vernommen,
He cries out, but no ear hears him;
Kämpft in des Strudels Mitte, hoffnungslos.
he struggles hopelessly in the midst of the maelstrom.
Des Frevlers lacht die Gottheit nun,
Now the gods mock the evildoer,
Sieht ihn, nun nicht mehr stolz,
and behold him, no longer proud,
In Banden der Not verstrickt,
enmeshed in the toils of distress,
Umsonst die Felsbank fliehn;
fleeing in vain the rocky reef;
An der Vergeltung Fels scheitert sein Glück,
on the cliffs of vengeance his fortune is wrecked,
Und unbeweint versinkt er.
and unmourned he sinks.
_Translated from the original Greek by Aeschylus._
_This poem is often misattributed to Johann Mayrhofer (1787-1836), but it has recently been discovered that this poem is in fact the work of August Lafontaine (1758 - 1831)._
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…
