Four Song Offerings - 2nd series

Song Cycle by Landon Ronald, Sir (1873 - 1938)

Translated to:

German (Deutsch) — Vier Sangesopfer - Teil 2 (Bertram Kottmann)

1. Early in the day it was whispered  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Early in the day it was whispered 
that we should sail in a boat, only thou and I, 
and never a soul in the world 
would know of this our pilgrimage 
to no country and to no end.

In that shoreless ocean, 
at thy silently listening smile 
my songs would swell in melodies, 
free as waves, free from all bondage of words.

Is the time not come yet? 
Are there works still to do? 
Lo, the evening has come down upon the shore 
and in the fading light 
the seabirds come flying to their nests.

Who knows when the chains will be off, 
and the boat, like the last glimmer of sunset, 
vanish into the night?

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • IRI Irish (Gaelic) [singable] (Gabriel Rosenstock) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Life of my life, I shall ever try  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Life of my life, 
I shall ever try 
to keep my body pure, 
knowing that thy living touch 
is upon all my limbs.

I shall ever try 
to keep all untruths out from my thoughts, 
knowing that thou art that truth 
which has kindled the light of reason in my mind.

I shall ever try 
to drive all evils away from my heart 
and keep my love in flower, 
knowing that thou 
hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.

And it shall be my endeavour 
to reveal thee in my actions, 
knowing it is thy power 
gives me strength to act.

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

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Frederik van Eeden) , no title
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Vie de ma vie, j'essaierai toujours de garder pur mon corps", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Gebet", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Yes, I know, this is nothing but thy love  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Yes, I know, this is nothing but thy love,
O beloved of my heart --
this golden light that dances upon the leaves, 
these idle clouds sailing across the sky, 
this passing breeze leaving 
its coolness upon my forehead.

The morning light has flooded my eyes --
this is thy message to my heart.
Thy face is bent from above, 
thy eyes look down on my eyes, 
and my heart has touched thy feet.

Text Authorship:

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

  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. Let all the strains of joy  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Let all the strains of joy 
mingle in my last song -- 
the joy that makes the earth flow over 
in the riotous excess of the grass, 
the joy that sets the twin brothers, 
life and death, dancing over the wide world, 
the joy that sweeps in with the tempest, 
shaking and waking all life with laughter, 
the joy that sits still with its tears 
on the open red lotus of pain, 
and the joy that throws everything it has 
upon the dust, and knows not a word.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 379