Welcome and Farewell

"Welcome and Farewell" (German: "Willkommen und Abschied") is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe from the collection Sesenheimer Lieder [de].

Schon stand im Nebelkleid die Eiche, Ein aufgetürmter Riese, da, Wo Finsternis aus dem Gesträuche Mit hundert schwarzen Augen sah.

Der Mond von einem Wolkenhügel Sah kläglich aus dem Duft hervor, Die Winde schwangen leise Flügel, Umsausten schauerlich mein Ohr.

Die Nacht schuf tausend Ungeheuer; Doch frisch und fröhlich war mein Mut: In meinen Adern welches Feuer!

Soon stood, in robe of mist, the oak, A tow'ring giant in his size, Where darkness through the thicket broke, And glared with hundred gloomy eyes.

From out a hill of clouds the moon With mournful gaze began to peer: The winds their soft wings flutter'd soon, And murmur'd in my awe-struck ear; The night a thousand monsters made, Yet fresh and joyous was my mind; What fire within my veins then play'd!

A robe of mist around him flung, The oak a towering giant stood, A hundred eyes of jet had sprung From darkness in the bushy wood.

Atop a hill of cloud the moon Shed piteous glimmers through the mist, Softly the wind took flight, and soon With horrible wings around me hissed.

[4] The poem has been set to music as a Lied for voice and piano by Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1794), Franz Schubert (D 767; 1822), Hans Pfitzner (op.