Orpheus with his lute

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General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare. From Henry VIII Act III scene I

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Texts and Translations

English.png English text

Orpheus with his lute made trees
And the mountain tops that freeze
Bow themselves while he did sing.
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.

Everything that heard him play
Ev'n the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art
Killing care and grief of heart.
Fall asleep or hearing, die.

German.png German translation

Orpheus’ Laute hieß die Wipfel
wüster Berge kalte Gipfel,
niedersteigen, wenn er sang.
Pflanz’ und Blüt’ und Frühlingssegen
sprosst, als folgten Sonn’ und Regen
Ewig nur dem Wunderklang.

Alle Wesen, so ihn hörten,
Wogen selbst, die sturmempörten,
neigten still ihr Haupt herab.
Solche Macht ward süßen Tönen;
Herzensweh und tödlich Sehnen
wiegten sie in Schlaf und Grab.

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