![Porch of the Maidens, At the Erechtheum, North Side of the Acropolis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d264b4_de3589bc0ff6427e8aff187ea15729a0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_640,h_360,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/d264b4_de3589bc0ff6427e8aff187ea15729a0~mv2.jpg)
Schubert set one of the 28 stanza's of Schiller's "The Gods of Greece" to music. We present an original translation along with the original German.
Oh beautiful world, where art thou flown?
Oh face of nature’s purest bloom, return! Now only in the fairy land of song Still lives the image for which we yearn. And barren mourn once blooming fields No Godhead lights up nature’s visage How from the world’s every living image Naught but a shadow yields!
Translation © David B. Gosselin
Original
Schöne Welt, wo bist du? Kehre wieder,
Holdes Blütenalter der Natur!
Ach, nur in dem Feenland der
Lieder Lebt noch deine fabelhafte Spur.
Ausgestorben trauert das Gefilde,
Keine Gottheit zeigt sich meinem Blick.
Ach, von jenem lebenwarmen Bilde
Blieb der Schatten nur zurück.