I sadly watch the hours go by,

The hours, the days, the months, the years,

And what’s called life shall soon go by,

And helpless and with fruitless rage

I watch the hours of life go by.

And I must curse when I would bless,

And I who am all love, must hate,

And I who have been born to sing

Must spend myself in moans and tears.

And must I perish on this rock

A cruel God has bound me to?

Will not some Hercules ere come

And make me free?