Translations of German Poetry in American Magazines 1741-1810Davis, Edward Ziegler
General
Translations of German Poetry in American Magazines 1741-1810
Davis, Edward Ziegler
American periodicals -- Bibliography; German poetry -- Translations into English
For the Philadelphia Repository.
HOFFNUNG.
Wie des morgens helle licht
Die dunkeln 'nachts durchbricht,
Und die ganze welt erfrout
Mit des tages herlichkeit
So wann grosse traurigkeit--
Laest den menschen keine freud,
Wann verzweiflung angst und schmertze
Fuelt das arme, banges hertze.
Geht die sonne _Hoffnungs_ auf,
Und im traur'gem brust sein lauf
Beginnt; dann flichtet traurigkeit,
Und die brust ist voller freud.
Von verzweiflung, angst und schmertze
Ist befreyt das bange hertze,
O! es bringt die _Hoffnungs_ sonne,
Seeligkeit, und grosse wonne.
--ADELIO.
* * *A poetical translation is requested.
_Phila. Repos._, IV-56, Feb. 18, 1804, Phila.
For the Philadelphia Repository.
TRANSLATION
Of Adelio's German Lines in last Repository.
HOPE.
As does the morn's resplendent light
Dispel the gloomy shades of night,
And the whole universe delight,
With the day's illustrious sight--
So when the adverse fates decree
Nothing to man but misery,
When they despair and pain impart
To the keen agonized heart--
Then does his course, _Hope's_ sun from rest
Take thro' the troubled heaving breast;
Then disappears adversity,
And leaves behind felicity.
Exempt from horror is the breast,
Despair and pain sink into rest;
The sun of _Hope_ affords delight,
And happiness supremely bright.
Translator.
_Phila. Repos._, IV-64, Feb. 25, 1804, Phila.
PASSAGE FROM KLOPSTOCK'S MESSIAH.
So at the midnight hour draws nigh to the slumbering city
Pestilence. Couch'd on his broad spread wings lurks under the rampart
Death, bale-breathing. As yet unalarmed are the peaceable dwellers;
Close to his nightly-lamp the sage yet watches; and high friends
Over wine not unhallow'd, in shelter of odorous bowers,
Talk of the soul and of friendship, and weigh their immortal duration.
But too soon shall frightful Death, in a day of affliction
Pouncing over them, over them spread; in a day of moaning and
anguish....
When with wringing of hands the bride for the bridegroom loud wails;
When, now of all her children bereft, the desperate mother
Furious curses the day on which she bore, and was born ... when
Weary with hollower eye, amid the carcases totter
Even the buriers ... till the sent Death-angel, descending,
Thoughtful on thunder-clouds, beholds all lonesome and silent,
Gazes the wide desolation, and long broods over the graves, fixt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account