DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Horizons, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 6, December 1940

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Horizons, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 6, December 1940

Page 6

6    H O R I Z O N S
????????

The question-marks are used because we can't decide upon a worth-while title for this section. By next issue we'll try to think of one. Anyhow, here're two poems for you to peruse. Both are lyrics from art-songs; the first is entitled "The Ancestral Tomb", by Ludwig Uhland. He He wrote it in German; the name of the translator escapes me at the moment. Franz Liszt made a musical setting of it: it's not one of his most famous songs, but in some ways is quite excellent. He found the perfect musical theme for the song to the spirits--the song within the song--which makes up for the faults the rest of it may have.

Correction: In the twelfth line, insert "hold" in place of "heard". Thanks.

THE ANCESTRAL TOMB
Across the plain to the chapel
    There journeyed a wand'rer grim,
A gray old man clad in armor,
    Who entered the chapel dim.
Beneath those arches slept
    His ancestors in the tomb
From it sounded wond'rous singing,
    Which filled the solemn gloom.
"Ye spirits of dead heroes
    Your greeting heralds my death.
Of your race the last, I'm worth:
    All hail! I've heard the faith!"
A coffin chill and stony
He saw: 'twas yet unfilled:
And there as a couch he laid him,
For pillow served him his shield.
Upon his sword he folded
His hands, and then fell asleep.
The Spirit voices all vanished,
And peace reigned in silence deep.
....................
This one's not even as worthy of being called weird as the first one, but we like the music by Schumann, and the words will do: they should, for they're by Heine--the original German, that is. Another rotten translation, too.

THE SONGS OF BITTER SORROW
The songs of bitter sorrow,
The dreams so full of hate.
Come, let us no inter them
All in a coffin great.
How much I'd lay within it
You'll learn ere I am done:
The coffin must be deeper
Than the Heidelberger Tun;
And rest on a bier gigantic
Of planks full thick and strong,
And that must be yet longer
Than Mayence Bridge is long.
Then bring to me twelve giants
And they shall stronger be
Than was the mighty Christopher
Whom at Cologne we see.
And these shall the coffin carry,
To sing to an ocean cave:
For such a mighty coffin
Deserves a mighty grave.
Say, can you tell why the coffin
Should be so deep and great?--

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6 H O R I Z O N S ???????? The question-marks are used because we can't decide upon a worth-while title for this section. By next issue we'll try to think of one. Anyhow, here're two poems for you to peruse. Both are lyrics from art-songs; the first is entitled "The Ancestral Tomb", by Ludwig Uhland. He He wrote it in German; the name of the translator escapes me at the moment. Franz Liszt made a musical setting of it: it's not one of his most famous songs, but in some ways is quite excellent. He found the perfect musical theme for the song to the spirits--the song within the song--which makes up for the faults the rest of it may have. Correction: In the twelfth line, insert "hold" in place of "heard". Thanks. THE ANCESTRAL TOMB Across the plain to the chapel There journeyed a wand'rer grim, A gray old man clad in armor, Who entered the chapel dim. Beneath those arches slept His ancestors in the tomb From it sounded wond'rous singing, Which filled the solemn gloom. "Ye spirits of dead heroes Your greeting heralds my death. Of your race the last, I'm worth: All hail! I've heard the faith!" A coffin chill and stony He saw: 'twas yet unfilled: And there as a couch he laid him, For pillow served him his shield. Upon his sword he folded His hands, and then fell asleep. The Spirit voices all vanished, And peace reigned in silence deep. .................... This one's not even as worthy of being called weird as the first one, but we like the music by Schumann, and the words will do: they should, for they're by Heine--the original German, that is. Another rotten translation, too. THE SONGS OF BITTER SORROW The songs of bitter sorrow, The dreams so full of hate. Come, let us no inter them All in a coffin great. How much I'd lay within it You'll learn ere I am done: The coffin must be deeper Than the Heidelberger Tun; And rest on a bier gigantic Of planks full thick and strong, And that must be yet longer Than Mayence Bridge is long. Then bring to me twelve giants And they shall stronger be Than was the mighty Christopher Whom at Cologne we see. And these shall the coffin carry, To sing to an ocean cave: For such a mighty coffin Deserves a mighty grave. Say, can you tell why the coffin Should be so deep and great?--