Text & Translation
Iphigenia
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Aus dem teuren Vaterlande keine Blume,
Weht kein Hauch
Aus den seligen Gefilden,
Wo Geschwister mit mir spielten? –
Ach, mein Leben ist ein Rauch!
Trauernd wank’ ich in dem Haine, –
Keine Hoffnung nähr’ ich – keine,
Meine Heimat zu erseh’n,
Und die See mit hohen Wellen,
Die an Klippen sich zerschellen,
Übertäubt mein leises Fleh’n.
Göttin, die du mich gerettet,
An die Wildnis angekettet, –
Rette mich zum zweitenmal;
Gnädig lasse mich den Meinen,
Lass’ o Göttin! mich erscheinen
In des grossen Königs Saal!
Iphigenia
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
bloom here on the shore of Tauris?
Does no breeze blow
from the blessed fields
where my brothers and sisters played with me?
Ah, my life is but smoke!
Sadly, hesitantly, I walk through the grove;
I cherish no hope – none –
of ever seeing my homeland.
And the sea, with its mighty waves
crashing against the cliffs,
drowns my soft pleas.
Goddess who rescued me
and chained me in this wilderness,
rescue me a second time;
mercifully grant, O goddess,
that I may appear before my own people
in the hall of the great king!
Iphigenia
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Iphigenia
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Blüht denn hier an Tauris Strande,
Does no flower from my beloved homeland
Aus dem teuren Vaterlande keine Blume,
bloom here on the shore of Tauris?
Weht kein Hauch
Does no breeze blow
Aus den seligen Gefilden,
from the blessed fields
Wo Geschwister mit mir spielten? –
where my brothers and sisters played with me?
Ach, mein Leben ist ein Rauch!
Ah, my life is but smoke!
Trauernd wank’ ich in dem Haine, –
Sadly, hesitantly, I walk through the grove;
Keine Hoffnung nähr’ ich – keine,
I cherish no hope – none –
Meine Heimat zu erseh’n,
of ever seeing my homeland.
Und die See mit hohen Wellen,
And the sea, with its mighty waves
Die an Klippen sich zerschellen,
crashing against the cliffs,
Übertäubt mein leises Fleh’n.
drowns my soft pleas.
Göttin, die du mich gerettet,
Goddess who rescued me
An die Wildnis angekettet, –
and chained me in this wilderness,
Rette mich zum zweitenmal;
rescue me a second time;
Gnädig lasse mich den Meinen,
mercifully grant, O goddess,
Lass’ o Göttin! mich erscheinen
that I may appear before my own people
In des grossen Königs Saal!
in the hall of the great king!
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…