Cycle of eight songs to poems by Heinrich Heine, op. 1

Song Cycle by Constantin Silvestri (1913 - 1969)

1. What torture have I suffered

Language: English 
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2. Mortal, sneer not at the devil  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Mortal, sneer not at the devil;
   Life's a short and narrow way,
And perdition everlasting
   Is no error of the day. 

Mortal, pay thy debts precisely,
   Life's a long and weary way;
And to-morrow thou must borrow,
   As thou borrow'dst yesterday.

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3. Through the forest

Language: English 
Through the forest
 . . . . . . . . . .

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4. Dost thou hate me then so fiercely?  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Dost thou hate me then so fiercely,
   Hast thou really changed so blindly?
To the world I shall proclaim it,
   Thou could'st treat me so unkindly. 

Say, ungrateful lips, how can you
   Breathe an evil word of scorning,
Of the very man who kissed you
   So sincerely, yestermorning?

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5. Softly, stars on high are wandering

Language: English 
Softly, stars on high are wandering
 . . . . . . . . . .

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6. How canst thou slumber calmly  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
How can'st thou slumber calmly,
   Whilst I alive remain?
My olden wrath returneth,
   And then I snap my chain. 
Know'st thou the ancient ballad
   Of that dead lover brave,
Who rose and dragged his lady
   At midnight to his grave? 
Believe me, I am living;
   And I am stranger far,
Most pure, most radiant maiden,
   Than all the dead men are.

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8. Der scheidende Sommer  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Das gelbe Laub erzittert]1, 
Es fallen die Blätter herab; 
[Ach, Alles, was hold und lieblich, 
Verwelkt und sinkt]2 in's Grab. 

Die [Wipfel]3 des Waldes umflimmert 
Ein schmerzlicher Sonnenschein; 
Das mögen die letzten Küsse 
Des [scheidenden]4 Sommers seyn.

Mir ist, als müßt ich weinen 
Aus [tiefstem Herzensgrund]5; 
[Dies Bild erinnert mich wieder]6
An unsre Abschiedsstund'. 

[Ich mußte dich]7 verlassen, 
Und wußte, du stürbest bald; 
[Ich war]8 der scheidende Sommer, 
[Du warst]9 der sterbende Wald.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Parting"
  • ENG English (John H. Campbell) , "The yellow foliage trembles", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Morgenblatt für gebildete Stände, 29. Band (Sonnabend, 23. Mai 1835), No. 123, page 489.

1 von Goethe: "Der Herbst ist angekommen"
2 von Goethe: "Und Alles was lebt und blühet, / Das muss einmal"
3 Franz: "Gipfel"
4 von Goethe: "sterbenden"
5 von Goethe: "tiefster Seele Grund"
6 von Goethe: "Diese Sonne thut mich mahnen"; Reinecke: "Es mahnet dies Bild mich wieder"
7 von Goethe: "Du musstest mich"
8 von Goethe: "Du warst"
9 von Goethe: "Ich bin"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
Total word count: 233