Classic and Romantic Texts

Otto Julius Bierbaum ("Martin M�bius") (1865-1910) Weite Wiesen im D�mmergrau; die Sonne verglomm, die Sterne ziehn, nun geh' ich hin zu der sch�nsten Frau, weit �ber Wiesen im D�mmergrau, tief in den Busch von Jasmin. Durch D�mmergrau in der Liebe Land; ich gehe nicht schnell, ich eile nicht; mich zieht ein weiches samtenes Band durch D�mmergrau in der Liebe Land, in ein blaues mildes Licht.	Broad meadows in the grey twilight; the sun's light has died away and the stars are moving. Now I go to the loveliest of women, across the meadow in the grey twilight, deep into bushes of jasmine. Through the grey twilight to the land of love; I do not walk quickly, I do not hurry. I am drawn by a faint, velvet thread through the grey twilight to the land of love, into a blue, mild light.
Lorenzo da Ponte(1749-1838) based on Beaumarchais Voi, che sapete che cosa � amor, Donne, vedete s'io l'ho nel cor! Quello ch'io provo, vi ridir�, � per me nuovo; capir nol so. Sento un affetto pien di desir, Ch'ora � diletto, ch'ora e martir. Gelo, e poi sento l'alma avvampar, E in un momento torno a gelar. Ricerco un bene fuori di me, Non so chi il tiene, non so cos'�. Sospiro e gemo senza voler, Palpito e tremo senza saper, Non trovo pace notte n� di, Ma pur mi piace languir cos�!	You ladies, who know what love is, See if I have it in my heart! I'll tell you what I'm going through, It's new to me; I can't understand it. I feel a liking full of desire That now is pleasure, now is agony. I freeze, and then feel my soul burning, And in another moment go back to freezing. I look for a gem outside of myself, I don't know who has it, I don't know what it is. I sigh and groan without wanting to, I quiver and tremble without knowing it, I find no peace night or day, And yet I like suffering this way!
Joseph Sonnleithner (1776-1835) O welche Lust, Owelche Lust, in freier Luft den Atem leicht zu heben! O welche Lust! Nur hier, nur hier ist Leben, der Kerker eine Gruft, eine Gruft. O welche Lust usw. Wir wollen mit Vertrauen auf Gottes Hilfe bauen; die Hoffnung fl�stert sanft mir zu, wir werden frei, wir finden Ruh', wir finden Ruh'! O Himmel! Rettung! welch' ein Gl�ck! O Freiheit, o Freiheit, kehrst du zur�ck? Ein Offizier erscheint auf dem Wall und entfernt sich wieder. EIN GEFANGENER Sprecht leise, haltet euch zur�ck! Wir sind belauscht mit Ohr und Blick! DIE GEFANGENEN Sprecht leise, haltet euch zur�ck usw. Wir sind belauscht mit Ohr und Blick! Sprecht leise, ja leise, leise. O welche Lust usw. Sprecht leise, haltet euch zur�ck usw. .	Oh what joy, what joy, in the free air to draw one's breath with ease! Oh what joy! Here, here alone is life, the cell's tomb, a tomb. Oh what joy! etc. Let us put our trust in help from God, and build on that. I hear Hope softly whispering, we shall be free, we shall find peace, we shall find peace! Oh Heaven! Deliverance! What happiness! Oh Freedom, Freedom, will you return to us? An officer appears on the wall and goes away again A PRISONER Speak softly, restrain yourselves! We're being watched and overheard! PRISONERS Speak softly, restrain yourselves, etc. We're being watched and overheard! Speak softly, yes, softly, softly. Oh what joy, etc. Speak softly, restrain yourselves, etc.
La Marseillaise: chant de guerre de l'Arm�e du Rhin (1792), Capt. Rouget de Lisle (1760-1829) Allons, enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arriv�. Contre nous, de la tyrannie, L'�tendard sanglant est lev�; Entendez-vous, dans les campagnes, Mugir ces f�roces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras �gorger nos fils et nos compagnes... Refrain Aux armes, Citoyens! Formez vos bataillons; Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons. Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, De tra�tres, de rois conjur�s? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers d�s longtemps pr�par�s? Fran�ais, pour nous, ah! quel outrage! Quels transports il doit exciter! C'est nous qu'on ose m�diter De rendre � l'antique esclavage! au Refrain Quoi! des cohortes �trang�res Feraient la loi dans nos foyers! Quoi! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! Grand Dieu! par des mains encha�n�es, Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient! De vils despotes deviendraient Les ma�tres de nos destin�es! au Refrain Tremblez tyrans, et vous, perfides, L'opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez, vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leur prix! Tout est soldat pour vous combattre. S'ils tombent, nos jeunes h�ros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout pr�ts � se battre! au Refrain Fran�ais, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups. �pargnez ces tristes victimes, A regret, s'armant contre nous. Mais ces despotes sanguinaires Mais ces complices de Bouill� Tous ces tigres qui, sans piti�, D�chirent le sein de leur m�re!... au Refrain Invocation (Lentement) Amour sacr� de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs. Libert�, Libert� ch�rie, Combats avec tes d�fenseurs! Sous nos drapeaux, que la Victoire Accoure � tes m�les accents; Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire! au Refrain Strophe des enfants Nous entrerons dans la carri�re Quand nos a�n�s n'y seront plus; Nous y trouverons leur poussi�re Et la trace de leurs vertus! Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre! au Refrain	Let us go, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived. Against us tyranny's Bloody standard is raised; Do you hear, in the fields, The howling of these wild soldiers? They are coming amongst us To cut the throats of our sons and our partners. Refrain To arms, Citizens! Form your battalions; March on! March on! That an impure blood may water our furrows. What wants this horde of slaves? Of traitors, of conspiring kings? For whom these loathsome chains, These long prepared irons? French, for us, ah! what an insult! What a transport it must excite! It is us they dare to contemplate Returning to an ancient slavery! Refrain What? These foreign troops Would make the law in our homes! What? These mercenary phalanxes Would heap up our proud warriors! Great God! With shackled hands, Our visages would acquiesce under the yoke! Vile despots would become The masters of our destinies! Refrain Tremble tyrants, and you, traitors, Opprobrium of all the coalition, Tremble! Your parricidal projects Will finally receive their due! All are soldiers to combat you. If they fall, our young heroes, The earth itself will bear new ones, Prepared to join the fight against you. Refrain You French, as warriors magnanimous, Deliver or withhold your blows. Spare such sad victims As may regret arming themselves against us. But not those sanguinary despots Those accomplices of Bouill� All those tigers who, without pity, Tear out their mother's womb. Refrain Invocation (Slowly) Sacred love of the Fatherland, Lead, support our avenging arms. Liberty, most cherished liberty, Strike with your defenders! Under our flags, let Victory Race to your bold accents, So your expiring enemies May see your triumph and our glory! Refrain Stanza of the children We will enter the foray When our elders are no longer there; We will find there their ashes And the trace of their virtues! We are much less jealous of surviving them Than of sharing their coffins, We will have the sublime conceit Of avenging them or of following them! Refrain

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