by
Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
Auf eine Lampe
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Noch unverrückt, o schöne Lampe, schmückest du,
An leichten Ketten zierlich aufgehangen hier,
Die Decke des nun fast vergessnen Lustgemachs.
Auf deiner weißen Marmorschale, deren Rand
Der Efeukranz von goldengrünem Erz umflicht,
Schlingt fröhlich eine Kinderschar den Ringelreihn.
Wie reizend alles! lachend, und ein sanfter Geist
Des Ernstes doch ergossen um die ganze Form--
Ein Kunstgebild der echten Art. Wer achtet sein?
Was aber schön ist, selig scheint es in ihm selbst.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "On a lamp", copyright ©
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 72
On a lamp
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Yet not displaced, o fair lamp,
hanging here delicately on light chains,
you adorn the ceiling of this now almost forgotten gazebo.
Upon your white tray of marble, whose rim
is ringed by a wreath of ivy made of gold-green bronze,
a band of children gaily hold hands in a circle dance.
How adorable it all is! it smiles, and yet a gentle spirit
of solemnity pervades the entire shape -
an artistic construction of the genuine kind. Who notices it?
No matter; that which is fair seems to find joy in itself.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/
For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 94