by Georg von Doppelmair (1753 - 1826)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Geständniß der Liebe
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Russian (Русский) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Kaum sah ich dich, so liebt' ich dich, 
Zu deinem Sclaven weiht' ich mich.

  An [deinem Blick]1 möcht' ich vergehn,
Nur meine Liebe nicht gestehn.

  Für Fürsten und für Bettler wand
Die Lieb' ein gleiches Blumenband.

  Nur ich darf deinen Namen [schön]2
Selbst meinem Herzen nicht gestehn.

  Komm Blitz, und schleudre mich hinab,
Für mich ist Freude nur im Grab!

  Denn ach! mein Herz, es ängstet sich,
Und spricht's nicht aus: ich liebe dich!

  Doch soll des letzten Seufzers Weh'n
Ihr meinen Lieblingsschmerz gestehn;

  Soll flüstern: Ach, [wie liebt er]3 dich,
Sein Herz war treu, bis er erblich!

  O flieg Gedanke hin zu ihr,
Sag', die ich liebe, lebt in mir!

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Russische Volkeslieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, aus dem Russischen übersetzt von Georg von Doppelmair, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1805, page 38.

1 Lang (both manuscripts): "deinen Blicken"
2 On one manuscript Lang (or her copyist): "so schön"
3 Lang: "ich liebe"

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Geständniß der Liebe", subtitle: "Nach einem rußischem [sic] Texte (only on one manuscript)", 1836 [ voice and piano ], unpublished; there are two manuscripts: one (by a copyist) contains only the first four stanzas, the other (in Lang's hand) contains all of them. [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Confession of love", subtitle: "After a Russian text (only on one manuscript)", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2021-04-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 115

Confession of love
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  As soon as I saw you, I loved you,
I dedicated myself to be your slave.

  I would like to be slain by your [gaze]1,
Only I would not like to confess my love.

  For princes and for beggars
Love wove the same flowery ribbon.

  Only I must not confess your [beautiful]2 name
Even to my heart.

  Come, lightning, and smite me down;
For me joy may only be found in the grave!

  For ah! my heart is fearful
And does not speak it aloud: I love you!

  But the breath of my last sigh
Shall confess my dearest pain to you;

  Shall whisper: Ah! [how he loved]3 you;
His heart remained faithful until he died!

  Oh fly, my thought, over to her,
Tell her that she whom I love, lives in me!

Subtitle: "After a Russian text (only on one manuscript)"

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Lang (both manusripts): "gazes"
2 On one manuscript Lang (or her copyist): "so beautiful"
3 Lang: "I love"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2021-04-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 138