Text & Translation
Geistes-Gruss, Sixth version
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Des Helden edler Geist,
Der, wie das Schiff vorüber geht,
Es wohl zu fahren heisst.
„Sieh, diese Senne war so stark,
Dies Herz so fest und wild,
Die Knochen voll von Rittermark,
Der Becher angefüllt;
„Mein halbes Leben stürmt’ ich fort,
Verdehnt’ die Hälft’ in Ruh,
Und du, du Menschenschifflein dort,
Fahr’ immer, immer zu!“
Ghost-Greetings
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
stands the hero’s noble spirit;
as the ship passes
he bids it a safe voyage.
‘See, these sinews were so strong,
this heart so steadfast and bold,
these bones full of knightly valour;
my cup was overflowing.
‘Half my life I sallied forth,
half I spent in tranquillity;
and you, little boat of mankind,
sail ever onward!’
Geistes-Gruss, Sixth version
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ghost-Greetings
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Hoch auf dem alten Turme steht
High on the ancient tower
Des Helden edler Geist,
stands the hero’s noble spirit;
Der, wie das Schiff vorüber geht,
as the ship passes
Es wohl zu fahren heisst.
he bids it a safe voyage.
„Sieh, diese Senne war so stark,
‘See, these sinews were so strong,
Dies Herz so fest und wild,
this heart so steadfast and bold,
Die Knochen voll von Rittermark,
these bones full of knightly valour;
Der Becher angefüllt;
my cup was overflowing.
„Mein halbes Leben stürmt’ ich fort,
‘Half my life I sallied forth,
Verdehnt’ die Hälft’ in Ruh,
half I spent in tranquillity;
Und du, du Menschenschifflein dort,
and you, little boat of mankind,
Fahr’ immer, immer zu!“
sail ever onward!’
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 Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…