Sung in the 2nd act of Heinrich Marschner's opera, Der Vampyr (read the synopsis of Der Vampyr), Aubry, who has been roped into aiding the vampire, Lord Ruthven, learns that Ruthven plans to sacrifice Aubry's lover to the demons in order to extend his life. Aubry must help Ruthven or else he too will become a vampire. Aubry has so many things to worry about that death and madness seem the least of his troubles.


German Lyrics
Wie ein schoener Frühlingsmorgen
Lag das Leben sonst vor mir.
All mein Wunsohen, all mein Sorgen
War ein heitrer Blick von ihr.
Flur und Wald schien nur zu leben
Um ihr Bild zuruckzugeben,
Um mit sußem Zauberklingen
Nur von ihr, von ihr zu singen.
Doch, jetzt umgibt mich dunkle Nacht,
Ich verzweifle an Gottes Macht.
Unheilbringende Daemonen
Scheinen die Schoepfung nur zu bewohnen.
Hoehnend hoer ich sie triumphieren.
Zum Verderben muß es fuhren.
Was ich auch beginnen wollte,
Und von allem was mir droht
Ist das minder Schreckensvolle
Wahnsinn oder Tod.

English Translation
Like a beautiful spring morning
Was my life before otherwise.
All my wishes, all my worries
Was a cheery look from her.
The fields and forests seemed only to live
To mimic her picture,
and sounds from magic flora
sing only to her. But, now I'm surrounded by dark night,
I despair of God's power.
It brings sinister demons
formed from the nothingness that seem to inhabit only this place.
I hear their mockeries and jeers triumph.
It must lead to destruction.

What I wanted to start before this calamity,
And of all that threatens me now
Is the least terrifying,
Madness or death.

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