Sonnets to Orpheus

[Jean Delville (1867-1953):
Orpheus]


German:

Sonette an Orpheus – I, ix


Nur wer die Leier schon hob
auch unter Schatten,
darf das unendliche Lob
ahnend erstatten.

Nur wer mit Toten vom Mohn
aß, von dem ihren,
wird nicht den leisesten Ton
wieder verlieren.

Mag auch die Spieglung im Teich
oft uns erschwimmen:
Wisse das Bild.

Erst in dem Doppelbereich
werden die Stimmen
ewig und mild.

- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)

Literal translation:

Sonette an Orpheus
Sonnets to Orpheus


Nur wer die Leier schon hob
Only [he] who the Lyre already raised
auch unter Schatten,
even among shades,
darf das unendliche Lob
may the infinite Praise,
ahnend erstatten.
when sensed, render.

Nur wer mit Toten vom Mohn
Only [he] who with the dead of poppies
aß, von dem ihren,
ate, those which were theirs,
wird nicht den leisesten Ton
will not the softest note
wieder verlieren.
again lose.

Mag auch die Spieglung im Teich
Though even the reflection in the pond may
oft uns erschwimmen:
often dissolve before us:
Wisse das Bild.
Know the image.

Erst in dem Doppelbereich
Only in the dual realm
werden die Stimmen
will the voices
ewig und mild.
be eternal and gentle

[Rainer Maria Rilke]

•

Versions:

1.

This is it

Only that the already main heads lyra also under the curtain, l'? the inexperienced praise can solidify you suspect. Who with deaths of partial poppy have eaten, the sound, that maintains sound they will only lose not other time. Also our reflection in groupement it can erschwimmen often: The table knows. Only in t o double spectrum the votes are changed eternally also lissement.

2.

But that one
that also raised
already the Leier under shades,

l' infinite compliment

can suspect to reimburse.

But what with deaths
of the Poppies it ate,
whose its,
it will not lose of new,
of new, to the clay.
Calmest reflection in the lake wants,
we equally frequently swim:
L' image knows.

This n' it is that in the sector
it duplicates
that the voices become
perpetual

and sweet.

- Laura, Nakita, Ben M., Maddy