English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 42

Ich hatte eine Nachtigall,
Die sang so schön, die sang so schön;
Sie ist davon geflogen,
Weit über Thal und Höh'n.
 
Ich hatt' ein junges Röselein,
So frisch und klar, so frisch und klar;
Es [ist]1 mir weggestohlen,
[Derweil]2 ich ferne war.
 
Ich hatte einen lieben Schatz,
[Mein Glück, mein Glanz, mein Glück, mein Glanz;]3
Sie ist davon gezogen,
Trug einen Myrthenkranz.

I had a nightingale,
It sang so beautifully, it sang so beautifully;
It has flown away,
Far across valley and heights.

I had a young little rose,
So fresh and clear, so fresh and clear;
It was stolen from me,
[While]1 I was far away.

I had a beloved darling,
[My happiness, my splendour, my happiness, my splendour;]2
She has gone away,
She wore a myrtle wreath.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Verlust", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 6. Vermischte Gedichte
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Translations of title(s):
"Ich hatte eine Nachtigall" = "I had a nightingale"
"Verlust" = "Loss"
"Volkslied" = "Folk song"

¹ Decker: "The while"
² Decker: "My happiness and splendour, my happiness and splendour "

This text was added to the website: 2023-09-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Auf geheimem Waldespfade
Schleich' ich gern im Abendschein
An das öde Schilfgestade,
Mädchen, und gedenke dein!

Wenn sich dann der Busch verdüstert,
Rauscht das Rohr geheimnisvoll,
Und es klaget und es flüstert,
Daß ich weinen, weinen soll.

Und ich mein', ich höre wehen
Leise deiner Stimme Klang,
Und im Weiher untergehen
Deinen lieblichen Gesang.

Along a secret forest path
I like to creep in the evening light;
I go to the desolate, reedy banks,
and think, my maiden, of you!

As the bushes grow dark,
the reeds hiss mysteriously,
and lament and whisper,
and thus I have to weep and weep.

And I think that I hear wafting
the gentle sound of your voice,
and down into the pond sinks
your lovely song.

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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Sehnsucht, in Schilflieder, no. 3
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Translation of title "Schilflied" = "Reed song"

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Schaust du mich aus deinen Augen
Lächelnd, wie aus Himmeln an,
Fühl ich wohl, daß keine Lippe
Solche Sprache führen kann.

Könnte sie's auch wörtlich sagen,
Was dem Herzen tief entquillt;
Still den Augen aufgetragen,
Wird es süßer nur erfüllt.

Und ich seh des Himmels Quelle
Die mir lang verschlossen war,
Wie sie bricht aus reinster Helle
Aus dem reinsten Augenpaar.

Und ich öffne still im Herzen
Alles, alles diesem Blick,
Und den Abgrund meiner Schmerzen
Füllt er strömend aus mit Glück.

When you look at me with your eyes 
smiling as if from heaven,
I feel certain that no lips
could speak such a language1.

If only they could say literally
what springs from deep within the heart;
[but] silently assigned to the eyes,
it will all the sweeter be fulfilled.

And I see heaven's fountain
that long had been locked to me,
as it breaks with purest brightness
from the purest pair of eyes;

I open everything in my heart
quietly to that glance,
and it fills the abyss of my suffering,
streaming with joy.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Der Blick"
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Translation revised 09-26-09 with very helpful suggestions by Bertram Kottmann.
¹ i.e., the language of the eyes

This text was added to the website: 2009-09-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 97