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Auf Der Bruck „Auf Der Brücke“ (1825) D853

Auf Der Bruck „Auf Der Brücke“

Ernst Schulze

Frisch trabe sonder Ruh und Rast,
Mein gutes Ross, durch Nacht und Regen!
Was scheust du dich vor Busch und Ast
Und strauchelst auf den wilden Wegen?
Dehnt auch der Wald sich tief und dicht,
Doch muss er endlich sich erschliessen,
Und freundlich wird ein fernes Licht
Uns aus dem dunkeln Tale grüssen.
Wohl könnt’ ich über Berg und Feld
Auf deinem schlanken Rücken fliegen
Und mich am bunten Spiel der Welt,
An holden Bildern mich vergnügen.
Manch Auge lacht mir traulich zu
Und beut mir Frieden, Lieb’ und Freude.
Und dennoch eil’ ich ohne Ruh
Zurück, zurück zu meinem Leide.
Denn schon drei Tage war ich fern
Von ihr, die ewig mich gebunden,
Drei Tage waren Sonn’ und Stern
Und Erd’ und Himmel mir verschwunden.
Von Lust und Leiden, die mein Herz
Bei ihr bald heilten, bald zerrissen,
Fühlt’ ich drei Tage nur den Schmerz,
Und ach! die Freude musst’ ich missen!
Weit sehn wir über Land und See
Zur wärmern Flur den Vogel fliegen;
Wie sollte denn die Liebe je
In ihrem Pfade sich betrügen?
Drum trabe mutig durch die Nacht!
Und schwinden auch die dunkeln Bahnen,
Der Sehnsucht helles Auge wacht,
Und sicher führt mich süsses Ahnen.

At Bruck 'On the bridge'

English Translation © Richard Wigmore

Trot briskly on, my good horse,
without pause for rest, through night and rain!
Why do you shy at bush and branch
and stumble on the wild paths?
Though the forest stretches deep and dense
it must at last open up,
and a distant light will greet us warmly
from the dark valley.
I could cheerfully speed over mountain and field
on your lithe back,
and enjoy the world’s varied delights,
its fair sights.
Many an eye smiles at me affectionately,
offering peace, love and joy.
And yet, restlessly, I hasten
back to my sorrow.
For three days now I have been far
from her to whom I am eternally bound;
for three days sun and stars,
earth and heaven, have vanished for me.
Of the joy and sorrow which, when I was with her,
now healed, now tore my heart,
I have for three days felt only the pain.
Alas, the joy I have had to forgo!
We watch the bird fly far away over land and sea
to warmer pastures.
How, then, should love ever
be deceived in its course?
So trot bravely on through the night!
Though the dark tracks may vanish,
the bright eye of longing is awake,
and sweet presentiment guides me safely onwards.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.

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Poet

Ernst Schulze

Ernst Conrad Friedrich Schulze was a German Romantic poet. He was born and died in Celle.

The son of the Mayor of Celle, his mother died while he was only two years old and much of his early education was overseen by his two grandfathers, who were a Celle bookseller and a minister.

Widely respected by his contemporaries in early youth, he found himself increasingly drawn into a new poetische Welt (world of poetry) in his mid-teens, showing a particular interest in folklore, fairy tales and diverse French literature. He said of himself, "I lived in a fantasy world and was on the way to becoming a complete obsessive." Despite these early Romantic daydreams, he was able to apply himself to his school work and was, at age 16, a model student.

Given his upbringing, it is probably unsurprisingly that he initially studied theology at the Georg-August University of Göttingen from 1806. He went on to study philosophy, literature and aesthetics from 1808, and received his doctorate in 1812. Afterward, he devoted himself to philology, which he taught privately in Göttingen. During his time at university he became a member of the Göttingen 'Corps Hannovera', one of the original German Student Corps.

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