Absalon, fili mi

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General Information

This is the complaint of King David when he receives the news of the death of his beloved son, Absalom. The story can be found in the second book of Samuel, chapter 18. The complaint itself is verse 33. From the 15th - 17th century this text was a quite popular text for composers to write a 'lamento'

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Original text and translations

version 1

Latin.png Latin text Absalon fili mi,
quis det ut moriar pro te, Absalon?
Non vivam ultra,
sed descendam in infernum plorans.

English.png English translation Absalon my son,
if only I had died instead of you, Absalon!
I shall live no more,
but go down to hell, weeping.

Translation supplied by Mick Swithinbank.

Dutch.png Dutch translation Absalom mijn zoon,
was ik maar in jouw plaats gestorven, Absalom!
Ik zal niet meer leven,
maar afdalen naar het dodenrijk, huilend.

version 2

Latin.png Latin text II Samuel 18:33 Vulgata
fili mi Absalom fili mi Absalom
Quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te
Absalom fili mi fili mi

English.png English translation O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
would God I had died for thee,
O Absalom, my son, my son!

German.png German translation Mein Sohn Absalom! Mein Sohn, mein Sohn Absalom!
Wollte Gott, ich wäre für dich gestorben!
O Absalom, mein Sohn, mein Sohn!

Dutch.png Dutch translation Mijn zoon Absalom, mijn zoon, mijn zoon Absalom!
Och, dat ik in uw plaats gestorven ware,
Absalom, mijn zoon, mijn zoon!

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