Atlas by Heinrich Heine
Translation
I, wretched Atlas, must carry the world,
I must carry this wide world of wrenching pain.
I bear the unbearable and my heart
Breaks within this feeble frame.
You proud heart, you got what you wanted!
You longed for happiness, for eternal bliss,
Or maybe it was for misery, proud heart—
Now you know true wretchedness.
Translation © David B. Gosselin
Original
Ich unglücksel'ger Atlas! Eine Welt,
Die ganze Welt der Schmerzen muß ich tragen,
Ich trage Unerträgliches, und brechen
Will mir das Herz im Leibe.
Du stolzes Herz, du hast es ja gewollt!
Du wolltest glücklich sein, unendlich glücklich,
Oder unendlich elend, stolzes Herz,
Und jetzo bist du elend.
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