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Wie du mir, so ich dir
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
View original-language texts alone: Tit for tat
A Song of Enchantment I sang me there, In a green-green wood, by waters fair, Just as the words came up to me I sang it under the wild wood tree. Widdershins turned I, singing it low, Watching the wild birds come and go; No cloud in the deep dark blue to be seen Under the thick-thatched branches green. Twilight came; silence came; The planet of Evening's silver flame; By darkening paths I wandered through Thickets trembling with drops of dew. But the music is lost and the words are gone Of the song I sang as I sat alone, Ages and ages have fallen on me - On the wood and the pool and the elder tree.
Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "A Song of Enchantment", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 8. Songs, no. 4, first published 1913
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Peacock Pie. A Book of Rhymes by Walter de la Mare, London: Constable & Co. Ltd., [1920], p. 171.
Ein verwunschenes Lied sang ich vor mich hin, an schönen Wassern in Waldes Grün, so wie es mir zuflog alsbald, sang ich 's unterm Baum im Wald. Dreht' mich linksrum beim leisen Singen, sah, wie Wildvögel kamen und gingen; kein Wölkchen am tiefblauen Himmel stand, unter dichtem Grün ich mich fand. Dämmerung kam; Stille trat ein; am Himmel des Abendsterns Silberschein; auf dunklen Pfaden querte ich Au und Gesträuch, das tropfte von Tau. Doch die Weise, die Worte des Lieds sind fort, das allein ich sang am Zauberort, Zeiten um Zeiten, gefallen auf mich, auf das Wasser, den Wald und den Holderich1.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2013 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "A Song of Enchantment", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 8. Songs, no. 4, first published 1913
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 mittelhochdeutsch für Schwarzer Holunder (Sambucus nigra).
This text was added to the website: 2013-11-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
There is a wind where the rose was; Cold rain where sweet grass was; And clouds like sheep Stream o'er the steep Grey skies where the lark was. Nought gold where your hair was; Nought warm where your hand was; But phantom, forlorn, Beneath the thorn, Your ghost where your face was. Sad winds where your voice was; Tears, tears where my heart was; And ever with me, Child, ever with me, Silence where hope was.
Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Autumn", from Poems, first published 1906
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Es bläst ein Wind, wo die Rose war; kalter Regen, wo lieblich das Gras einst war; wie Schafe zieh'n graue Wolken dahin am Himmel, wo die Lerche war. Kein Gold mehr, wo dein Haar war; noch Wärme, wo deine Hand war; doch gespenstisch, verlor'n, unter dem Dorn dein Geist, wo einst dein Gesicht war. Wind klagt, wo deine Stimme war; Tränenstrom, wo mein Herz war; und immer um mich, Kind, immer um mich, Stille, wo Hoffnung war.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2013 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Autumn", from Poems, first published 1906
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2013-11-09
Line count: 15
Word count: 77
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
...
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Silver", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 7. Earth and Air, no. 4, first published 1913
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Der Mond, er wandert still, bedacht in Silberschuhen durch die Nacht, Mal hier, mal dort sein Auge sucht auf Silberbäumen Silberfrucht; die Fenster fangen nach und nach die Strahlen ein vom Silberdach; tief schläft der Hund in seinem Haus, zwei Silberpfoten schaun heraus; Schemenhaft zeigen sich in ihrem Schlag Tauben im Silbergefiederschlaf. die Zwergmaus huscht, ist kaum zu sehn, mit Silberauge, Silberzeh'n; reglos der Fisch im Wasser glänzt, silbernes Schilf an den Silberstrom grenzt.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2013 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Silver", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 7. Earth and Air, no. 4, first published 1913
Go to the general single-text view
Translation of title "Silver" = "Silber"This text was added to the website: 2013-11-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 74
Dark is the night, The fire burns faint and low, Hours -- days -- years, Into grey ashes go; I strive to read, But sombre is the glow. Thumbed are the pages, And the print is small; Mocking the winds That from the darkness call; Feeble the fire that lends Its light withal. O ghost, draw nearer; Let thy shadowy hair Blot out the pages That we cannot share; Be ours the one last leaf By Fate left bare! Let's Finis scrawl, And then Life's book put by; Turn each to each In all simplicity: Ere the last flame is gone To warm us by.
Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Vigil", appears in Motley and Other Poems, first published 1918
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Dunkel die Nacht, das Feuer verzehrt; Stund, Tag und Jahr sind in Asche verkehrt; müh' mich, zu lesen, hätte Helle begehrt. Zerlesen das Buch der Druck zu klein; im Düster Winde Spott und Hohn spei'n; müde das Feuer und fahl sein Schein. O Geist, rück näher, dass dein lichtloses Haar lösch aus die Seiten, die uns nicht mehr gewahr; und das Schicksal uns leer die letzte Seite bewahr. Lasst Finis1 kritzeln, dann das Lebensbuch beiseit'. Wendet euch zu in Bescheidenheit: eh das Letzte erloschen, das uns Wärme bereit'.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2013 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Vigil", appears in Motley and Other Poems, first published 1918
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 i.S.v. Ende, Schluss.
This text was added to the website: 2013-11-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 88
Have you been catching ... fish, Tom Noddy?
Have you snared a weeping hare?
Have you whistled "No Nunny" and gunned a poor bunny,
Or blinded a bird of the air?
Have you trod like a murderer through the green woods,
Through the dewy deep dingles and glooms,
While every small creature screamed shrill to Dame Nature
"He comes - and he comes!"?
Wonder I very much do, Tom Noddy,
If ever, when off you roam,
An Ogre from space will stoop a lean face,
And lug you home:
Lug you home over his fence, Tom Noddy,
Of thorn-sticks nine yards high,
With your bent knees strung round his old iron gun
And your head a dan-dangling by:
And hang you up stiff on a hook, Tom Noddy,
From a stone-cold pantry shelf,
Whence your eyes will glare in an empty stare,
Till you are cooked yourself!
Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Tit for tat", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 5. Beasts, no. 7, first published 1913
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Hast du Fische gefangen, Tomm Noddy1? Ist in der Falle ein Hase verendet? Hast gepfiffen "Kein Späßchen" und erschossen ein Häschen, oder hast du 'nen Vogel geblendet? Bist wie ein Mörder durch Wälder gestreift, durch klamme Klammen, klaftertief, düster, als zu Mutter Natur jedes Tierlein schrie schrill "Hier kommt er - da ist er!" ? Ich frag mich, frage mich sehr, Tom Noddy, ob je, wenn durch Wiese und Wald du streifst, ein Monster vom All dich bringt grinsend zu Fall, dich greift und nach Hause schleift: dich zerrt über seine Umzäunung, Tom Noddy, eine neun Meter hohe Stachelwehr, deine Knie geschnürt an den eisernen Lauf und dein Kopf baumelt hin und her: dich starr an den Haken hängt, Tom Noddy, in einer Kammer, steinern und kalt, wo ins Leere du starrst und auf nichts mehr harrst, bis man dich selbst brät alsbald.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2013 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "Tit for tat", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 5. Beasts, no. 7, first published 1913
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 "noddy" steht im Englischen für "Dummkopf"
This text was added to the website: 2013-11-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 141