Text & Translation
Sokrates und Alcibiades
German source:
Friedrich Hölderlin
Diesem Jünglinge stets? kennst du Größers nicht?
Warum siehet mit Liebe,
Wie auf Götter, dein Aug' auf ihn?"
Wer das Tiefste gedacht, liebt das Lebendigste,
Hohe Jugend versteht, wer in die Welt geblickt,
Und es neigen die Weisen
Oft am Ende zu Schönem sich.
"Why, holy Socrates, do you always pay homage
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
To this young man? Are not greater things
known to you?
Why do you look upon him with love,
As you would look upon gods?"
He who has pondered deepest, loves what is
most alive,
He who has seen the world, understands
true virtue,
And in the end the wise
Will often yield to Beauty.
Sokrates und Alcibiades
German source:
Friedrich Hölderlin
"Why, holy Socrates, do you always pay homage
English source:
Richard Stokes
"Warum huldigest du, heiliger Sokrates,
"Why, holy Socrates, do you always pay homage
Diesem Jünglinge stets? kennst du Größers nicht?
To this young man? Are not greater things
Warum siehet mit Liebe,
known to you?
Wie auf Götter, dein Aug' auf ihn?"
Why do you look upon him with love,
Wer das Tiefste gedacht, liebt das Lebendigste,
He who has pondered deepest, loves what is
Hohe Jugend versteht, wer in die Welt geblickt,
most alive,
Und es neigen die Weisen
He who has seen the world, understands
Oft am Ende zu Schönem sich.
true virtue,
Composer
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music,…
Poet
Friedrich Hölderlin
Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin (20 March 1770 – 7 June 1843) was a German poet and philosopher. Described by Norbert von Hellingrath as "the most German of Germans", Hölderlin was a key figure of German Romanticism. Particularly due to his…