English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 2

by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920)

1. Frühlingsnacht   [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Frühlingsnacht ", op. 2 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Timm und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Über'n]1 Garten durch die Lüfte
Hört' ich Wandervögel ziehn,
Das bedeutet Frühlingsdüfte,
Unten fängt's schon an zu blühn.

Jauchzen möcht' ich, möchte weinen,
Ist mir's doch, als könnt's nicht sein!
[Alte]2 Wunder wieder scheinen
Mit dem [Mondesglanz]3 herein.

Und der Mond, die Sterne sagen's,
Und im [Träumen]4 rauscht's der Hain,
Und die Nachtigallen schlagen's:
Sie ist deine! Sie ist dein!

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1 or "Über'm". Both versions are common in the literature. Gumbert and Sternberg use this, according to Hofmeister; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Schumann, Dover score: "Alle" (however, often sung as "Alte")
3 Jensen: "Mondenglanz"
4 Jensen, Schumann: "Traume"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1.
Language: English 
Above the [gardens]1 and across the sky
I heard migrating birds passing;
that meant that spring was in the air;
below, things are already beginning to bloom.

I could rejoice, I could weep -
I feel as though it cannot be!
Old wonders appear again
with the moonlight.

And the moon and stars say it,
and in a dream the grove murmurs it,
and the nightingales sing it:
she is yours! She is yours!

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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Translation of titles
"Frühlingsnacht" = "Spring night"
"Frühlingsbotschaft" = "Spring message"

1 or "garden" when the original is "Über'm"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Du Ring an meinem Finger   [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Du Ring an meinem Finger ", op. 2 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Timm und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du Ring an meinem Finger,
  Mein [goldnes]1 Ringelein,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
  Dich fromm an das Herze mein.

Ich hatt' ihn ausgeträumet,
  Der Kindheit [friedlich schönen]2 Traum,
Ich fand allein mich, verloren
  Im öden, unendlichen Raum.

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
  Da hast du mich erst belehrt,
Hast meinem Blick erschlossen
  Des Lebens [unendlichen Werth]3.

Ich [werd']4 ihm dienen, ihm leben,
  Ihm angehören ganz,
Hin selber mich geben und finden
  Verklärt mich in seinem Glanz.

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
  Mein [goldnes]1 Ringelein,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
  Dich fromm an das Herze mein.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Adelbert von Chamisso, Neunzehnte Auflage (19th edition), Berlin, Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1869, pages 11-12.

Modernized spelling would change "Werth" to "Wert"
1 Schumann, Loewe: "goldenes"
2 Loewe: "friedlichen"
3 Schumann: "unendlichen, tiefen Wert"
4 Schumann: "will"

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
2. Thou ring on my finger
Language: English 
Thou ring on my finger, 
my little golden ring, 
I press thee piously upon my lips 
piously upon my heart. 

I had dreamt it, 
the tranquil, lovely dream of childhood, 
I found myself alone and lost 
in barren, infinite space. 

Thou ring on my finger, 
thou hast taught me for the first time, 
hast opened my gaze unto 
the endless, deep value of life. 

I want to serve him, live for him, 
belong to him entire, 
Give myself and find myself 
transfigured in his radiance. 

Thou ring on my finger, 
my little golden ring, 
I press thee piously upon lips, 
piously upon my heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Daniel Platt, (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.

    Daniel Platt.  Contact: abelard2 (AT) aol (DOT) com


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 104

Translation © by Daniel Platt
3. Am Grabe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Am Grabe", op. 2 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Timm und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dort [ist so]1 tiefer Schatten,
Du schläfst in guter Ruh',
Es deckt mit grünen Matten
Der liebe Gott dich zu.

Die alten Weiden neigen
Sich auf dein Bett herein,
Die Vöglein in den Zweigen
Sie singen treu dich ein.

Und wie in goldnen Träumen
Geht linder Frühlingswind
Rings in den stillen Bäumen --
Schlaf wohl mein [süßes]2 Kind!

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Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff's sämtliche poetische Werke, dritte Auflage, Erster Band, Gedichte, C. F. Amelang's Verlag, Leipzig, 1883.

1 Kampmann: "unten ist"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Greith: "liebes"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3.
Language: English 
Yonder are such deep shadows,
You lie sleeping well in peace,
The dear God covers you up
with green meadows.

The old willows bow
Down upon your bed,
The little birds in their branches
Sing you to sleep faithfully.

And as if in golden dreaming
A mild spring wind passes
Through the quiet trees round about --
Sleep well, my sweet child!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
    Contact: 

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English poem title: 9. of "On the Death of My Child"
English song title (Fielitz, Greith): Yonder are such deep shadows
English song title (Kaufmann): Sleep well, my child
English song title (Reinecke): On the Child's Death
English song title (Schottky, Seyffardt): On the Death of My Child


This text was added to the website: 2013-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Waldlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Waldlied", op. 2 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Timm und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach! wie ist es doch gekommen,
Daß die ferne Waldespracht 
So mein ganzes Herz genommen,
Mich um alle Ruh gebracht.

Wenn von drüben Lieder wehen,
Waldhorn gar nicht enden will,
Weiß ich nicht, wie mir geschehen,
Und im Herzen bet ich still.

Könnt ich zu den Wäldern flüchten,
Mit dem Grün in frischer Lust
Mich zum Himmelsglanz aufrichten --
Stark und frei wär da die Brust!

Hörnerklang und Lieder kämen
Nicht so schmerzlich an mein Herz,
Fröhlich wollt ich Abschied nehmen,
Zög auf ewig wälderwärts.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Aural Allusions II
Language: English 
Ah! how did it ever happen
That the distant forest splendour
Captivated my heart so completely,
And deprived me of all peace[?]

When songs waft over from afar,
[When] the horn sounds without ceasing,
I do not know what is happening to me,
And I pray quietly in my heart.

If I could take refuge in the forests,
If with the greenery in fresh joy
I could raise myself to the heavenly light --
Strong and free would my breast become!

The sound of horns and songs would then
Not come to my heart so painfully,
I could happily take farewell,
I would eternally travel towards the forests.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2010-03-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 107

Translation © by Sharon Krebs