Nie mocht’ ich je so Grausames erleben

Nie mocht’ ich je so Grausames erleben
Als sie, in deren Dienst ich mich verzehre;
Denn ihr Verlangen ruht in eis’gem Meere,
Das meine läßt in Fieberglut mich beben.

Ach, mir genügt – will keine Gunst sie geben –
Die Schönheit nur zu sehn, die ich begehre;
Ich bin beglückt, daß meine Qual sich mehre,
Nichts andres macht mir Lust, mein Aug’ zu heben.

Nicht ihr – die stets entgegenschaut der Sonnen,
Verwandelt wandellos noch Minne spendet –
Ward je wie mir so bittres Los gesendet.

Wenn, Minne, nie ein Sieg den Kampf beendet
Mit ihrem Stolz, eh’ meine Zeit verronnen:
Weih’ einen Seufzer aus der Mitleids Bronnen!

Collection: 
German
Translator Simple: 
Albert Ritter (Karl Förster, Karl Ludwig Kannegießer)
1922
Dante Alighieri

More from Poet

  • The Saints in Glory

    Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Paradise: Canto XXXI. IN fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay then Before my view the saintly multitude, Which is his own blood Christ espoused. Meanwhile, That other host, that soar aloft to gaze And celebrate his glory, whom...

  • The Triumph of Christ

    Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Paradise: Canto XIV. AND lo! forthwith there rose up round about A lustre, over that already there; Of equal clearness, like the brightening up Of the horizon. As at evening hour Of twilight, new appearances through heaven...

  • Sin and Redemption

    Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Paradise: Canto VII. WHAT I have heard, Is plain, thou say’st: but wherefore God this way For our redemption chose, eludes my search. “Brother! no eye of man not perfected, Nor fully ripened in the flame...

  • Fire of Purification

    Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Purgatory: Canto XXVII. NOW was the sun so stationed, as when first His early radiance quivers on the heights, Where streamed his Maker’s blood; while Libra hangs Above Hesperian Ebro; and new fires, Meridian, flash on Ganges’...

  • Man’s Free-Will

    Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Purgatory: Canto XVI. “YE, who live, Do so each cause refer to heaven above, E’en as its motion, of necessity, Drew with it all that moves. If this were so, Free choice in you were none; nor justice...