Lynceus der Thürmer, auf Fausts Sternwarte singend (Faust II) I
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Zum Schauen bestellt,
Dem Thurme geschworen,
Gefällt mir die Welt.
Ich blick’ in die Ferne,
Ich seh’ in die Näh’
Den Mond und die Sterne,
Den Wald und das Reh.
So seh’ ich in allen
Die ewige Zier,
Und wie mir’s gefallen,
Gefall’ ich auch mir.
Ihr glücklichen Augen,
Was je ihr gesehn,
Es sei wie es wolle,
Es war doch so schön!
Lynceus, the watchman, singing on Faust's observatory
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Employed to watch,
Sworn to the tower,
I delight in the world.
I see what is far,
I see what is near,
The moon and the stars,
The wood and the deer.
In all these I see
Eternal beauty,
And as it has pleased me,
I’m pleasing to myself.
O happy eyes,
Whatever you have seen,
Let it be as it may,
How fair it has been!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Lynceus der Thürmer, auf Fausts Sternwarte singend (Faust II) I
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Lynceus, the watchman, singing on Faust's observatory
English source:
Richard Stokes
Zum Sehen geboren,
I am born for seeing,
Zum Schauen bestellt,
Employed to watch,
Dem Thurme geschworen,
Sworn to the tower,
Gefällt mir die Welt.
I delight in the world.
Ich blick’ in die Ferne,
I see what is far,
Ich seh’ in die Näh’
I see what is near,
Den Mond und die Sterne,
The moon and the stars,
Den Wald und das Reh.
The wood and the deer.
So seh’ ich in allen
In all these I see
Die ewige Zier,
Eternal beauty,
Und wie mir’s gefallen,
And as it has pleased me,
Gefall’ ich auch mir.
I’m pleasing to myself.
Ihr glücklichen Augen,
O happy eyes,
Was je ihr gesehn,
Whatever you have seen,
Es sei wie es wolle,
Let it be as it may,
Es war doch so schön!
How fair it has been!
Composer
Carl Loewe
Johann Carl Gottfried Loewe (G30 November 1796 – 20 April 1869),was a German composer, tenor singer and conductor. He wrote over 400 ballads and songs. Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.
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…