Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen aß
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte
Auf seinem Bette weinend sass,
Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte!
Ihr führt ins Leben uns hinein,
Ihr lasst den Armen schuldig werden,
Dann überlasst ihr ihn der Pein:
Denn alle Schuld rächt sich auf Erden.
Who has never eaten his bread with tears
German translation ©
Richard Wigmore
who, through nights of grief,
has never sat weeping on his bed,
knows you not, heavenly powers.
You bring us into life;
you let the poor wretch fall into guilt,
then you abandon him to his agony:
for all guilt is avenged on earth.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen aß
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Who has never eaten his bread with tears
German source:
Richard Wigmore
Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass,
Who has never eaten his bread with tears,
Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte
who, through nights of grief,
Auf seinem Bette weinend sass,
has never sat weeping on his bed,
Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte!
knows you not, heavenly powers.
Ihr führt ins Leben uns hinein,
You bring us into life;
Ihr lasst den Armen schuldig werden,
you let the poor wretch fall into guilt,
Dann überlasst ihr ihn der Pein:
then you abandon him to his agony:
Denn alle Schuld rächt sich auf Erden.
for all guilt is avenged on earth.
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 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…