Absalon, fili mi
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'
Settings by composers
- Josquin des Prez version 1 of the text
- Heinrich Schütz version 2
See When David heard for settings of the equivalent text in English.
See David's lamentation for an alternative English setting.
See Lugebat David Absalon for a related Latin setting.
Original text and translations
Latin text
Absalon fili mi, English translation
Absalon my son,
Dutch translation
Absalom mijn zoon, |
'version 2
Latin text II Samuel 18:33
Vulgata English translation
O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Dutch translation
Mijn zoon Absalom, mijn zoon, mijn zoon Absalom! German translation
Mein Sohn Absalom! Mein Sohn, mein Sohn Absalom! |
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