An Frau Nannette Falk-Auerbach
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Original German
[edit]An Frau Nannette Falk-Auerbach
Als du im Saal mit deiner himmlischen Kunst
Beethoven zeigst, und seinem Willen nach
Mit den zehn Fingern fuehrst der Leute Gunst,
Zehn Zungen sagen was der Meister sprach.
Schauend dich an, ich seh’, dass nicht allein
Du sitzest: jetzt herab die Toene ziehn
Beethovens Geist: er steht bei dir, ganz rein:
Fuer dich mit Vaters Stolz sein’ Augen gluehn:
Er sagt, “Ich hoerte dich aus Himmelsluft,
Die kommt ja naeher, wo ein Kuenstler spielt:
Mein Kind (ich sagte) mich zur Erde ruft:
Ja, weil mein Arm kein Kind im Leben hielt,
Gott hat mir dich nach meinem Tod gegeben,
Nannette, Tochter! dich, mein zweites Leben!”
English translation
[edit]To Nannette Falk-Auerbach
Oft as I hear thee, wrapt in heavenly art,
The massive message of Beethoven tell
With thy ten fingers to the people’s heart
As if ten tongues told news of heaven and hell, —
Gazing on thee, I mark that not alone,
Ah, not alone, thou sittest: there, by thee,
Beethoven’s self, dear living lord of tone,
Doth stand and smile upon thy mastery.
Full fain and fatherly his great eyes glow:
He says, “From Heaven, my child, I heard thee call
(For, where an artist plays, the sky is low):
Yea, since my lonesome life did lack love’s all,
In death, God gives me thee: thus, quit of pain,
Daughter, Nannette! in thee I live again.”
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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