Luise Hensel

Luise Hensel
www.hymntime.com/tch
Short Name: Luise Hensel
Full Name: Hensel, Luise, 1798-1876
Birth Year: 1798
Death Year: 1876

Text of "Müde bin ich geh zur Ruh" is printed in Lutheran Service Book, 2006 #887
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Hensel, Luise, daughter of J. J. L. Hensel, Lutheran pastor at Linum, near Fehrbellin, Brandenburg, was born at Linum, March 30, 1798, Though confirmed as a Lutheran in her fifteenth year, she gradually approximated to Roman Catholicism, and was formally received into that Communion, Dec. 7, 1818. During the remaining years of her life, she devoted herself mainly to the education of the young and the care of the sick. In 1874 she entered the Union of Daughters of Christian Love at Paderborn, and died at Paderborn, Dec. 18, 1876. (O. Kraus, 1879, pp. 204-211; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xii. 1-3, &c.) Her best hymns were written before she was 23, and in proportion as she became an Ultramontane the poetical value of her productions declined. Her finest productions are distinguished by childlike simplicity, humility, resignation, and deep Christian love. They have won wide acceptance in Germany. The first two of those noted may be regarded as nursery classics.
A number of her hymns came into Clemens Brentano's hands as early as 1819, and were by mistake included as his in his posthumous works. A few were printed in F. Förster's Sängerfahrt, 1818, and a good many more in M. Diepenbrock's Geistlicher Blumenstrauss, Sulzbach, 1829. A complete edition of her hymns was published by Professor C. Schlüter of Münster as her Lieder at Paderborn, 1870 (4th ed., 1879).

i. Hymns in English common use:
i. Immer muss ich wieder lesen. [Holy Scripture.] This beautiful children's hymn on the Life of Christ as narrated in the Gospels, appeared in Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 265, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines (entitled "On the reading of Holy Scripture "); and in her Lieder, 1870, is dated Berlin,
1815. It is repeated in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schlatz, &, 1837, the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, &c. Translated as:—
Ever would I fain be reading. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 24. It has been included in full in Psalms & Hymns, Bedford, 1859; Kennedy, 1863; Book of Praise for Children, 1881; and in America in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, and others. In some collections it is abridged; and in the Unitarian South Place Collection, 1873, it begins, "Ever find I joy in reading."
Other translations are:—
(1) “O how sweet the wondrous story," by Mrs. Bevan, 1859, p. 142. (2) "In that book so old and holy," in Dr. H. W. Dulcken's Golden Harp, 1864, p. 25. (3) "Still I read, and weary never," by “A. M. A," in the British Herald, Feb. 1868, p. 211.
ii. Müde bin ich, geh' zur Ruh. [Evening.] This beautiful child's evening prayer, the most popular of all her hymns, appeared in Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 270, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. In her Lieder, 1870, p. 54, dated Berlin, Autumn, 1816. Included in the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 528. Translated as:—
1. Now that o'er each weary head. A free translation of stanzas i.-iii. as No. 22 in C. H. Bateman's Children's Hymns, 1872.
2. Weary now I go to rest. A good translation of stanzas i.-iii. by E. Cronenwett as No. 324 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880.
Other translations are:—
(1) "Now I close my tired eyes," by Mrs. Bevan, 1859, p. 147. (2) "I am tir'd, and so I seek," by Miss Manington, 1863, p. 126. (3) "Weary now I go to bed," in Dr. H. W. Dulcken's Golden Harp, 1864, p. 40. (4) “Now with weariness opprest," a second translation by Dr. Dulcken, p. 72. (5) “Wearied now I seek repose," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 111.
ii. Hymns not in English common use:
iii. Ich liebe einen Königs Sohn. [Love to Christ.] In Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 304, in 9 stanzas, and in her Lieder, 1870, p. 67, dated Berlin, 1817. Translated as "I love a royal only Son," by E. Massie, 1867, p. 174.
jv. 0 Sonne, wenn von deinem Licht. [Love to Christ.] In Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 257, in 6 stanzas, and in her Lieder, 1870, p. 128, dated Söndermühlen, 1823. Translated as "O Sun, if from thy light a ray," in J. D. Burns's Memoir and Remains, 1869, p. 270.
v. 0 Sorge, die mien niederdrückt. [Encouragement.] In Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 271, in 6 stanzas, and in her Lieder, 1870, p. 13, dated Berlin, 1815. The translations are:—(1l) "O anxious care that weighs me down," by Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, Sept. 1865, p. 144. (2) "Begone, O load of care, begone," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 80.
vi. Was verlangst du, warumbangst du. [Cross and Consolation.] In Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 261, in 6 stanzas entitled "Suraum corda." In her Lieder, 1870, p. 43, it is dated Berlin, 1816. Translated as "What seekest thou! Why fearest thou," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 28.
vii. Zu dir, zu dir, hinweg von mir. [Consecration to Christ.] In Diepenbrock, 1829, p. 267, in 5 stanzas In her Lieder, 1870, p. 31, dated Berlin, 1816. Translated as "To Thee, to Thee, away from self," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 72. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

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Hensel, Luise, p. 510, ii., No. v. "O Sorge," &c, appeared in Förster's Sängerfahrt, 1818, p. 266.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Wikipedia Biography

Luise Hensel (30 March 1798 to 18 December 1876) was a German teacher and religious poet, who influenced the romantic style of her friend and fellow poet, Clemens Brentano.

Texts by Luise Hensel (22)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Eešetaa'eveotseLuise Hensel (Author)Cheyenne2
Esta noche al descansarLuise Hensel (Author)Spanish2
Ever must I read and ponderLuise Hensel (Author)2
Ever would I fain be readingLuise Hensel (Author)English21
Immer muss ich wieder lesenLuise Hensel (Author)German35
Müde bin ich, geh' zur Ruh', Schließe meine Augen zuLuise Hensel (Author)German53
Muy cansado, voy a dormirLuise Hensel (Author)Spanish1
Nimechoka kabisaL. Hensel (Author)Swahili2
Now the light has gone awayLuise Hensel, 1798-1876 (Author (of German))English1
Now to gain a night's reposeLuise Hensel (Author)2
Spracowany idę spaćLuise Hensel (Author)Polish2
To Thee, to Thee, away from SelfLuise Hensel (Author)English5
Was ist das doch ein holdes KindLuise Hensel (Author)German3
Was verlangst du, warum bangst duLuise Hensel (Author)German3
Wearily, at daylight's closeLuise Hensel (Author)English4
Weary am I, go to restLuise Hensel (Author)English1
Weary now I close mine eyesLuise Hensel (Author)2
Weary now I go to bedLuise Hensel (Author)English1
Weary now I go to restLuise Hensel (Author)English8
Weary now, I seek reposeLouise Hensel (Author)English3
Wenn dich Menschen kränkenLuise Hensel (Author)German7
Zu dir, zu dir, hinweg von mirLuise Hensel (Author)German4

Data Sources

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