English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 4

by Heinrich Seligmann

1. Die Wasserrose  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Die Wasserrose", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Die stille Wasserrose]1
Steigt aus dem blauen See,
[Die Blätter flimmern und blitzen]2,
Der Kelch ist weiß wie Schnee.

Da gießt der Mond vom Himmel
All' seinen gold'nen Schein,
Gießt alle seine [Strahlen]3
In ihren Schooß hinein.

Im Wasser um die Blume
Kreiset ein weißer Schwan,
Er [singt]4 so süß, so leise
Und schaut die Blume an.

Er singt so süß, so leise
Und will im Singen vergehn --
O Blume, weiße Blume,
Kannst du das Lied verstehn?

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, Vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 63.

1 C. Schumann: "Die stille Lotusblume" or "Die stille Lotosblume"
2 Lachner, Wegener-Koopman: "Die feuchten Blätter zittern"
3 Rheinberger: "Flammen"
4 Kücken: "singet"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. The quiet lotus-blossom/water-rose
Language: English 
The quiet lotus blossom
sprouts from the pond so blue,
its leaves all glimmer and sparkle,
its bud is white as snow.

The moon pours down from heaven
all of its golden shine,
pours all its golden moonbeams
into her blossom heart.

In water 'round the blossom
circles the whitest swan
it sings so sweet, so softly
and gazes on the bloom.

It sings so sweet, so softly
and would but perish in song.
O blossom, whitest blossom,
can you conceive the song?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

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Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
2. Deine Augen heissen Vergißmeinnicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Deine Augen heissen Vergißmeinnicht", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Deine Augen heißen Vergißmeinnicht,
Und Rose heißt dein Mund, 
Holdselig steht dir zu Gesicht 
Der beiden liebreizender Bund.

Wer in die Augen dir gesehn,
Vergißt nicht ihre Macht,
Wie Sterne werden sie vor ihm stehn
In der allerdunkelsten Nacht.

Sie strahlen wie des Himmels Licht 
Ihm in das Herz hinein,
Vergißmeinnicht! Vergißmeinnicht! 
Nie wird er verlassen sein.

Und auf weß Mund nur einen Kuß
Deines Mundes Rose lag, 
Der hat daran er denken muß,
Auf ewig und drei Tag.

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Confirmed with Julius Wolff Singuf. Rattenfängerlieder, Siebzehntes Tausend, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1887, page 88.


by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
2. Your eyes are called forget-me-nots
Language: English 
Your eyes are called forget-me-nots,
And rose is the name of your lips,
The lovely combination of these two
Suits your face most fairly.

Whoever has looked into your eyes
Does not forget their power,
Like stars they shall stand before him
In the darkest of all nights.

Like light from heaven they shine
Into his heart,
Forget-me-not! Forget-me-not!
He shall never be forsaken.

And upon whose lips only a single kiss
From the rose of your lips has rested,
He must think of it
Forever and three days.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen,
Mit den Äuglein süß und klar,
Du mein liebes, kleines Mädchen,
Deiner denk' ich immerdar.

 Lang ist heut der Winterabend,
Und ich möchte bei dir sein,
[Bei dir sitzen, mit dir schwatzen]1,
Im vertrauten Kämmerlein.

  An die Lippen [wollt']2 ich pressen
Deine [kleine]3 weiße Hand,
Und mit Thränen sie benetzen,
Deine [kleine, weiße]4 Hand.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 137.

1 Dresel: "mit dir schwatzen, mit dir kosen"
2 Dresel: "möcht"
3 Dresel: "liebe"
4 Dresel: "weiße, liebe"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Maiden with the red little mouth
Language: English 
 Maiden with the red little mouth,
 with eyes sweet and clear:
 You are my dear little maiden -
 I think of you all the time.
 
 The winter evening drags tonight,
 and I would be with you,
 to sit by you and chat
 in a cosy little room.
 
 I would like to press to my lips
 your small white hand,
 and moisten it with my tears,
 your small white hand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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4. Lass, o Welt, o lass mich sein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Lass, o Welt, o lass mich sein", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

Was ich traure, weiß ich nicht,
Es ist unbekanntes Wehe;
Immerdar durch Tränen sehe
Ich der Sonne liebes Licht.

Oft bin ich mir kaum bewußt,
Und die helle Freude zücket
Durch die Schwere, so mich drücket,
Wonniglich in meiner Brust.

Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 101.

Note to stanza 3, line 3: in some anthologies this line is given erroneously as "Durch die Schwere, die mich drücket."


by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
4. Seclusion
Language: English 
Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

What I mourn, I know not.
It is an unknown pain;
Forever through tears shall I see
The sun's love-light.

Often, I am scarcely conscious
And the bright joys break
Through the pain, thus pressing
Delightfully into my breast.

Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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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Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
5. Das Veilchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Das Veilchen", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ging ein [Mägdlein]1 durch die Au, 
Blumen schauten weiss und blau
  Aus dem grünen Bett.
An des Gartens Zaungeheg 
Hart am vielbetretnen Weg 
  Stand ein Violet.

Sprach die Schöne weich und sanft:
"Veilchen an der Strasse Ranft 
  Thust mir herzlich leid,
Bist im Unkraut halb versteckt,
Und mit Strassenstaub bedeckt
   Ist dein blaues Kleid.

Kommt des Müllers bunte Kuh, 
Die am Raine grast, herzu, 
  Ist's um dich gescheh'n.
Ketten soll dich meine Hand,
Sollst an meines Hutes Band 
  Duften und vergeh'n."

Und das kleine Veilchen spricht:
"Sorge dich, o Mägdlein, nicht,
  Was mein Schicksal sei.
Ob mich eine Kuh zerzupft,
Ob ein Gänschen ab mich rupft,
  Ist mir einerlei."

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 26-27.

1 Riedel: "Mädchen"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
5. The violet
Language: English 
A maiden walked through the meadow;
Flowers peeped, white and blue,
  From out of the green flowerbed.
Beside the fence of the garden,
Close to the much-trodden pathway
  Stood a violet.

The lovely girl spoke softly and gently:
"Violet at the side of the road,
  I pity you with all my heart,
You are half concealed in the weeds,
And your blue garb is covered
  With the dust of the street.

Should the miller's speckled cow
That is grazing upon the acclivity come along,
  Then it's all over for you.
My hand shall enchain you,
Upon the ribbon of my hat
  You shall dispense your scent and wilt."

And little violet spoke:
"Do not worry, oh maiden,
  What my fate might be.
If a cow pulls me to shreds,
If a little goose plucks me,
  It is all one to me."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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Line count: 24
Word count: 141

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Mir träumte, schaurig schaute der Mond  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Seligmann , "Mir träumte, schaurig schaute der Mond", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mir träumte: [traurig]1 [schaute]2 der Mond,
Und traurig schienen die Sterne;
Es trug mich zur Stadt, wo Liebchen wohnt,
Viel hundert Meilen ferne.

  Es hat mich zu ihrem Hause geführt,
Ich küßte die Steine der Treppe,
Die oft ihr kleiner Fuß berührt
Und ihres Kleides Schleppe.

  Die Nacht war lang, die Nacht war kalt,
Es waren so kalt die Steine;
Es [lugt']3 aus dem Fenster die blasse Gestalt,
Beleuchtet vom Mondenscheine!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 128.

1 Seligmann: "schaurig"
2 von Erlanger: "schien"
3 von Erlanger: "luch" ?

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. I dreamt, the moon gazed gruesomely
Language: English 
[I dreamt: the moon gazed sadly]1,
And sadly shone the stars;
I was carried to the city where my beloved lives,
Many hundreds of miles away.

I was led to her house,
I kissed the stones of the stoop
That her little foot
And the train of her dress had touched.

The night was long, the night was cold,
The stones were so cold;
Her pale form peers out of the window,
Illumined by moonlight!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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Translations of title(s):
"An Sie" = "To her"
"Ihre Gestalt" = "Her form"
"Mir träumte" = "I dreamt"
"Mir träumte, schaurig schaute der Mond" = "I dreamt, the moon gazed gruesomely"
"Mir träumte: traurig schaute der Mond" = "I dreamt: the moon gazed sadly"
"Mir träumte: traurig schien der Mond" = "I dreamt: the moon shone sadly"
"Sehnsucht II" = "Yearning II"
"Traumbild" = "Dream image"

1 von Erlanger: " I dreamt: the moon shone sadly"; Seligmann: "I dreamt, the moon gazed gruesomely"


This text was added to the website: 2020-08-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 77

Translation © by Sharon Krebs