English translations of Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen, Viertes Heft der Gesänge, opus 7

by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856)

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1. Schön Rohtraut
 (Sung text)
by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Schön Rohtraut", op. 7 (Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen, Viertes Heft der Gesänge) no. 1, published c1850 [ high voice and piano ], Magdeburg: Heinrichshofen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie heißt König Ringangs Töchterlein?
  Rohtraut, Schön-Rohtraut.
Was tut sie denn den ganzen Tag,
Da sie wohl nicht spinnen und nähen mag?
  Tut fischen und jagen.
O daß ich doch ihr Jäger wär'!
Fischen and Jagen freute mich sehr.
  -- Schweig stille, mein Herze!

Und über eine kleine Weil',
  Rohtraut, Schön-Rohtraut,
So dient der Knab' auf Ringangs Schloß
In Jägertracht und hat sein Roß,
  Mit Rohtraut zu jagen.
O daß ich doch ein Königssohn wär'!
Rohtraut, Schön-Rohtraut lieb' ich so sehr.
  -- Schweig' stille, mein Herze!

Einsmals sie ruh'ten am Eichenbaum,
  Da lacht Schön-Rohtraut:
Was siehst mich an so wonniglich?
Wenn du das Herz hast, küsse mich!
  Ach! erschrak der Knabe!
Doch denket er: mir ist's vergunnt,
Und küsset Schön-Rohtraut auf den Mund.
  -- Schweig' stille, mein Herze!

Darauf sie ritten schweigend heim,
  Rohtraut, Schön-Rohtraut;
Es jauchzt der Knab' in seinem Sinn:
Und würdst du heute Kaiserin,
  Mich sollt's nicht kränken:
Ihr tausend Blätter im Walde wißt,
Ich hab' Schön-Rohtrauts Mund geküßt!
  -- Schweig' stille, mein Herze.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. Pretty Rohtraut
Language: English 
 What is King Ringang's daughter called?
 Rohtraut, pretty Rohtraut.
 What does she do the whole day long,
 since she probably doesn't spin or sew?
 She hunts and fishes.
 O that I were her hunter!
 I love hunting and fishing.
 Be silent, my heart!
 
 And after a little while,
 Rohtraut, pretty Rohtraut,
 so serves the boy in Ringang's castle
 in hunter's clothes and with a horse,
 to go hunting with Rohtraut:
 O that I were the King's son!
 Rohtraut, pretty Rohtraut, I love so much.
 Be silent, my heart!
 
 At first they rest by the oak tree,
 Rohtraut, pretty Rohtraut:
 Why do you look at me so wonderingly?
 If you have a heart, kiss me!
 Oh! the boy was startled!
 But he thought, I'm permitted,
 an kissed pretty Rohtraut on the lips.
 Be silent, my heart!
 
 After that they rode home in silence,
 Rohtraut, pretty Rohtraut;
 the boy rejoiced to himself;
 And if you became Empress today,
 I'd not grieve
 Thousands of your leaves in the forest know,
 I've kissed pretty Rohtraut's lips!
 Be silent, my heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Charles James Pearson, (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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 177

Translation © by Charles James Pearson
2. Das Geheimnis
 (Sung text)
by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Das Geheimnis", op. 7 (Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen, Viertes Heft der Gesänge) no. 2, published c1850, stanzas 1,3,4 [ high voice and piano ], Magdeburg: Heinrichshofen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie konnte mir kein Wörtchen sagen,
Zu viele Lauscher waren wach,
Den Blick nur durft ich schüchtern fragen,
Und wohl verstand ich, was er sprach.
Leis komm' ich her in deine Stille,
Du schön belaubtes Buchenzelt,
Verbirg in deiner grünen Hülle
Die Liebenden dem Aug' der Welt!

 ... 

Daß ja die Menschen nie es hören,
Wie treue Lieb' uns still beglückt!
Sie können nur die Freude stöhren,
Weil Freude nie sie selbst, nie entzückt.
Die Welt wird nie das Glück erlauben,
Als Beute wird es nur gehascht,
Entwenden mußt du's oder rauben,
Eh die Mißgunst uns überrascht.

Leis auf den Zähen kommt's geschlichen,
Die Stille liebt es und die Nacht,
Mit schnellen Füßen ist's entwichen,
Wo des Verräthers Auge wacht.
O schlinge dich, du sanfte Quelle,
Ein breiter Strom um uns herum,
Und drohend mit empörter Welle
Vertheidige dieß Heiligthum.

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See also Zelter's Im Garten which uses some pieces from this poem.

by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)
2. The Secret
Language: English 
She couldn't even say the smallest word to me,
Too many listeners were paying attention;
I could only shyly question her look,
And I clearly understood what that was saying.
I have come here softly into your silence,
You beautifully leaved tent of beech trees,
In your green covering, hide
The lovers from the eyes of the world!

[ ... ]

Let us hope that other people will never hear
How secretly happy we are made by devoted love!
They can only disturb the joy
Since they have never been delighted by joy themselves.
The world will never permit happiness,
It will just be hunted as prey,
You will have to steal it or commit robbery,
Before you are overtaken by envy.

It slips in gently on tiptoe,
It loves quietness and the night,
It runs off on quick feet,
Wherever a traitor's eye is keeping watch.
Oh gentle fountain, throw out
A wide stream around us,
And threatening with rising waves,
Defend this sanctuary.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Malcolm Wren, (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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of titles
"Das Geheimniß" = "The Secret"
"Das Geheimnis" = "The Secret"



This text was added to the website: 2016-08-29
Line count: 32
Word count: 216

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
3. Widmung
 (Sung text)
by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Widmung", op. 7 (Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen, Viertes Heft der Gesänge) no. 3, published c1850 [ high voice and piano ], Magdeburg: Heinrichshofen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du meine Seele, du mein Herz,
Du meine Wonne, o du mein Schmerz,
Du meine Welt, in der ich lebe,
Mein Himmel du, darin ich lebe,
O du mein Grab, in das hinab
Ich ewig meinen Kummer gab!
Du bist die Ruhe, du bist der Frieden,
Du bist der Himmel, mir beschieden.
Daß du mich liebest, macht mich mir werth,
Dein Blick hat mich vor mir verklärt,
Du hebst mich liebend über mich,
Mein guter Geist, mein beßres Ich!

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. You my soul, you my heart
Language: English 
You my soul, you my heart,
you my bliss, o you my pain,
you the world in which I live;
you my heaven, in which I float,
o you my grave, into which 
I eternally cast my grief.
You are rest, you are peace,
you are bestowed upon me from heaven.
That you love me gives me my worth;
your gaze transfigures me;
you raise me lovingly above myself,
my good spirit, my better self!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Emily Ezust