Then I have conquered; then at last

Representative Text

Then I have conquered; then at last
My course is run, good night!
I am well pleased that it is past;
A thousand times, good night!
But ye, dear friends, whom I must leave,
Look not thus anxiously;
O wherefore thus lament and grieve?
It standeth well with me.

Farewell, O anguish, pain, and fear,
Farewell, farewell for ever!
It glads my heart to leave you here,
Redeemed from you for ever!
Henceforth a life of joy I share,
In my Creator's hand;
None of the griefs can touch me there,
That haunt this lower land.

Who yet o'er earth in time must roam,
Not yet from error free,
Scarce lisp the language of our home,
The glad eternity.
Far better is a happy death,
Than worldly life, I trow;
The weakness once I sank beneath,
I nevermore shall know.

Lay on my coffin many a wreath,
For conquerors wreathed are seen;
And lo! my soul attains through death
The crown of evergreen,
That blooms in fadeless groves of heaven;
And this fair victor's crown,
That mighty Son of God hath given,
Who for my sake came down.

'Twas but a while that I was sent
To dwell among you here;
Now God resumes what He hath lent,
Oh grieve not o'er my bier;
But say, 'twas given at His command
Who takes it, He is just;
Our life and death are in His hand,
His servants can but trust.

That ye should see my grave, alas!
Shows we are frail indeed;
That it so soon should come to pass,
Our Father hath decreed,
And He your bitter grief shall still;
Think not too young am I,
For he who dies as God doth will,
Is old enough to die.

Farewell, thou dear, dear soul, farewell!
To those sweet pleasures go,
That we who mourning here must dwell,
Not yet, alas! can know.
Ah when shall that great day be come,
When these things fade away,
And Thou shalt bid us welcome home;
Would God it were today!

Source: Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year #99

Author: Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer

Sacer, Gottfried Wilhelm, son of Andreas Sacer, senior burgomaster of Naumburg, in Saxony, was born atNaumburg, July 11, 1635. He entered the University of Jena in 1653, and remained there for four years as a student of law. He was thereafter for two years secretary to Geheimrath von Platen, in Berlin; and then tutor, first to a son of the Swedish Regierungsrath von Pohlen, and then to the sons of the Saxon Landhauptmann von Bünau. In 1665 he entered the military service under Herr von Mollison, commandant at Lüneberg, at first as regimental secretary, and afterwards as ensign. Soon tiring of this he went to Kiel in 1667, in order to graduate LL.D., but before doing so undertook a tour in Holland and Denmark with some young noblemen from… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Then I have conquered; then at last
German Title: So hab ich obgesieget
Author: Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer (1665)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Page Scan

Lyra Germanica #243

Text

Lyra Germanica #99

Page Scan

Lyra Germanica #S1-99

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us