Songs

Talismane

by Robert Schumann From Myrthen (1840) Op. 25 i–early iv 1840

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Text & Translation

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Talismane
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Gottes ist der Orient!
Gottes ist der Okzident!
Nord und südliches Gelände
Ruht im Frieden seiner Hände.

Er, der einzige Gerechte,
Will für jedermann das Rechte.
Sei von seinen hundert Namen
Dieser hochgelobet! Amen.

Mich verwirren will das Irren;
Doch du weisst mich zu entwirren,
Wenn ich handle, wenn ich dichte,
Gib du meinem Weg die Richte!

Talismans
English translation © Richard Stokes

God is the East!
God is the West!
Northern and southern lands
Repose in the peace of his hands.

He, who alone is just,
Wills what is right for each.
Of his hundred names,
Let this one be highly praised! Amen.

Wandering may lead me astray;
But you can disentangle me.
When I act, when I write,
May you guide me on my way!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Talismane
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Talismans
English source: Richard Stokes

Gottes ist der Orient!
God is the East!
Gottes ist der Okzident!
God is the West!
Nord und südliches Gelände
Northern and southern lands
Ruht im Frieden seiner Hände.
Repose in the peace of his hands.

Er, der einzige Gerechte,
He, who alone is just,
Will für jedermann das Rechte.
Wills what is right for each.
Sei von seinen hundert Namen
Of his hundred names,
Dieser hochgelobet! Amen.
Let this one be highly praised! Amen.

Mich verwirren will das Irren;
Wandering may lead me astray;
Doch du weisst mich zu entwirren,
But you can disentangle me.
Wenn ich handle, wenn ich dichte,
When I act, when I write,
Gib du meinem Weg die Richte!
May you guide me on my way!

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

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…

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