Pater ecstaticus from the Eighth Symphony - ‘Schlußszene aus Faust’
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Glühendes Liebeband,
Siedender Schmerz der Brust,
Schäumende Gotteslust.
Pfeile, durchdringet mich,
Lanzen, bezwinget mich,
Keulen, zerschmettert mich,
Blitze, durchwettert mich!
Daß ja das Nichtige
Alles verflüchtige,
Glänze der Dauerstern,
Ewiger Liebe Kern.
Pater Ecstaticus
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Love that burns for ever,
Seething pain in my breast,
Frothing love of God.
Come, arrows, and pierce me through,
Lances – subdue my flesh,
Maces, come batter me,
Lightnings – shatter me!
That nothingness
Might drown all in emptiness,
Let one constant star shine,
The kernel of eternal love.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Pater ecstaticus from the Eighth Symphony - ‘Schlußszene aus Faust’
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Pater Ecstaticus
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ewiger Wonnebrand,
Rapture which yearns for ever,
Glühendes Liebeband,
Love that burns for ever,
Siedender Schmerz der Brust,
Seething pain in my breast,
Schäumende Gotteslust.
Frothing love of God.
Pfeile, durchdringet mich,
Come, arrows, and pierce me through,
Lanzen, bezwinget mich,
Lances – subdue my flesh,
Keulen, zerschmettert mich,
Maces, come batter me,
Blitze, durchwettert mich!
Lightnings – shatter me!
Daß ja das Nichtige
That nothingness
Alles verflüchtige,
Might drown all in emptiness,
Glänze der Dauerstern,
Let one constant star shine,
Ewiger Liebe Kern.
The kernel of eternal love.
Composer
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer and conductor. Read more about him 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…