English translations of Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 2

by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905)

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1. Die Spröde  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "Die Spröde", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  An dem [reinsten]1 Frühlingsmorgen
Gieng die Schäferin und sang,
Jung und schön und ohne Sorgen,
Daß es durch die Felder [klang]2,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Thyrsis bot ihr für ein Mäulchen
[Zwei,]3 drei Schäfchen gleich am Ort,
[Schalkhaft blickte sie]4 ein Weilchen;
Doch sie sang und lachte fort,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Und ein Andrer bot ihr Bänder,
Und der Dritte bot sein Herz;
Doch sie trieb mit Herz und Bändern
So wie mit den Lämmern Scherz,
Nur la la! le ralla.

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Confirmed with Goethes Sämmtliche Werke: Vollständige Ausgabe in zehn Bänden, Erster Band, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta’schen Buchhandlung, 1875, pages 6-7. Note: modernized spelling would change "Gieng" to "Ging".

1 Cimarosa: "schönsten"
2 Cimarosa: "drang"
3 Cimarosa: "Da"
4 Cimarosa: "Sie besann sich nur"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1.
Language: English 
  On the [purest]1 of spring mornings
The shepherdess walked along singing,
Young and beautiful and free of care,
[Singing] so that [it rang]2 through the fields,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Thyrsis offered her for a little kiss
[Two,]3 three little sheep on the spot,
[She looked at him roguishly]4 for a little while;
But she continued to sing and laugh,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  And another chap offered her ribbons,
And a third one offered his heart;
But she made fun of heart and ribbons
As she had with the lambs,
Only la la! le ralla.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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Translated titles:
"Die Spröde" = "The aloof [shepherdess]"
"An dem reinstem Frühlingsmorgen" = "On the purest of spring mornings"
"Die Spröde und die Bekehrte" = "The aloof and the repentant [shepherdess]"

1 Cimarosa: "most beautiful"
2 Cimarosa: "the song penetrated"
3 Cimarosa: "There"
4 Cimarosa: "She only thought about it"


This text was added to the website: 2016-03-30
Line count: 15
Word count: 103

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die Bekehrte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "Die Bekehrte", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bei dem Glanz der Abendröthe
Ging ich still den Wald entlang,
Damon saß und blies die Flöte,
Daß es von den Felsen klang,
So la la! . . .

Und er zog mich [zu]1 sich nieder,
Küßte mich so [hold, so]2 süß.
Und ich sagte: blase wieder!
Und der gute Junge blies,
So la la! . . .

Meine [Ruh]3 ist nun verloren,
Meine Freude floh davon,
Und ich [hör']4 vor meinen Ohren
Immer nur den alten Ton,
So la la, le ralla! . . .

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Confirmed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sämmtliche Werke, Volume 1, Stuttgart und Tübingen, J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1854, p. 5.

1 Medtner: "an"
2 Medtner, Stange: "hold und"
3 Medtner: "Ruhe"
4 Medtner: "höre"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. The woman converted
Language: English 
In the radiance of the sunset glow
I walked quietly along the forest,
Damon sat and played his flute
So that it rang from the rocky cliffs,
So la la! . . .
 
And he drew me down [to him]1,
Kissed me so [beautifully, so]2 sweetly,
And I said: play again!
And the good lad played,
So la la! . . .
 
My peace is now lost,
My joy has flown away,
And in my ears I hear
Always only the old sound,
So la la, le ralla! . . .

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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1 Medtner: "against himself"
2 Medtner: "beautifully and"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-01
Line count: 15
Word count: 94

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Mailied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "Mailied", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wie herrlich leuchtet
Mir die Natur!
Wie glänzt die Sonne!
Wie lacht die Flur!

  Es dringen [Blühten]1
Aus jedem Zweig
Und tausend Stimmen
Aus dem Gesträuch,

  Und Freud und Wonne
Aus jeder Brust.
O Erd', o Sonne!
O Glück, o Lust!

  O [Lieb']2, o Liebe! 
So golden schön,
Wie Morgenwolken
Auf jenen Höhn!

  Du segnest herrlich
Das frische Feld,
Im Blütendampfe
Die [volle]3 Welt.

  O [Mädchen, Mädchen]4, 
Wie lieb ich dich!
Wie [blickt]5 dein Auge,
Wie liebst du mich!

  So liebt die Lerche
Gesang und Luft,
Und Morgenblumen
Den Himmelsduft.

  Wie ich dich liebe
Mit [warmem]6 Blut,
Die du mir Jugend
Und [Freud]7 und Mut

  [Zu]8 neuen Liedern
Und Tänzen gibst.
Sey ewig glücklich,
Wie du mich liebst!

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Confirmed with Goethe's Gedichte, Erster Theil, Neue Auflage, Stuttgart und Tübingen: in der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1829, pages 46-47.

See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

1 Bartók: "die Blüthen"
2 Lorenz: "Liebe"
3 Zilcher: "weite"
4 Zilcher: "Liebster, Liebster"
5 Lorenz: "glänzt"; Bartók, Mendelssohn-Hensel, Pfitzner: "blinkt"
6 Bartók: "warmen" (a grammatical error)
7 Bartók: "Freund" (an error)
8 Gabler: "in"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. How marvellously does Nature shine for me!
Language: English 
How marvellously 
does Nature shine for me!
How the sun gleams!
How the meadow laughs!

Blossoms burst forth 
From every branch
And a thousand voices
From the bushes!

And joy and bliss 
From every breast;
O Earth, o Sun, 
o Happiness, o Joy!

O love, o darling!
So golden fair,
As morning clouds
On yonder heights!

You bless marvellously
The fresh field,
In a mist of blossoms, 
The full world.

O maiden, maiden,
How I love you!
O how you gaze at me,
O how you love me!

The lark loves
Song and Breeze,
And morning flowers,
The dew of heaven,

As I love you 
With blood on fire,
You who give me youth
And joy and cheer

For new songs 
And new dances.
Be forever happy
In loving me so!

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 131

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. An die Entfernte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "An die Entfernte", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So hab ich wirklich dich verloren,
Bist du, o [Schöne]1, mir entflohn?
Noch [klingt]2 in den gewohnten Ohren
Ein jedes Wort, ein jeder Ton.

So wie des Wandrers Blick am Morgen
Vergebens in die Lüfte dringt,
[Wenn]3, in dem blauen Raum verborgen,
Hoch über ihm die Lerche singt:

So dringet ängstlich hin und wieder
Durch Feld und [Busch und Wald]4 mein Blick;
Dich rufen alle meine Lieder;
O komm, Geliebte, mir zurück!

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 67; and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, page 117.

1 Berger: "Teure"
2 Hensel: "tönt"
3 Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "Wann"
4 Hensel: "Wald und Busch"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. To the distant one
Language: English 
So have I truly lost you?
Have you, o fair one, fled from me?
Yet still I can hear in my accustomed ears 
Every word, every tone of your voice.

Just as the wanderer's gaze in the morning
Searchingly pierces the heavens in vain
When, concealed in the blue expanse
High above, the lark sings to him:

So does my gaze anxiously search here and there,
Through field and bush and forest,
Singing to you through all my songs,
O come, my darling, back to me!

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Suleikas Traum  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "Suleikas Traum", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Suleika:
 Als ich auf dem Euphrat schiffte,
 Streifte sich der goldne Ring 
 Finger ab, in Wasserklüfte,
 Den ich jüngst von dir empfing.
 
 Also träumt ich. Morgenröte
 Blitzt' ins Auge durch den Baum,
 Sag, Poete, sag, Prophete!
 Was bedeutet dieser Traum?

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possibly by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) and possibly by Marianne von Willemer (1784 - 1860)
5. When I was sailing on the Euphrates
Language: English 
Suleika:
 When I was sailing on the Euphrates,
 the golden ring slid off 
 my finger into the watery abyss -
 the ring that I received from you recently.
 
 Thus I dreamed. The red dawn
 blazed into my eyes down through the trees;
 tell me, poet, tell me, prophet!
 What does this dream mean?

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 9
Word count: 52

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Dämmrung senkte sich von oben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Konrad Heubner (1860 - 1905), "Dämmrung senkte sich von oben", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 6, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmrung senkte sich von oben,
Schon ist alle Nähe fern;
Doch zuerst emporgehoben
Holden Lichts der Abendstern!
Alles schwankt in's Ungewisse,
Nebel schleichen in die Höh';
Schwarzvertiefte Finsternisse
Widerspiegelnd ruht der See.

[Nun]1 [am]2 östlichen Bereiche
Ahn' ich Mondenglanz und Gluth,
Schlanker Weiden Haargezweige
Scherzen auf der nächsten Fluth.
Durch bewegter Schatten Spiele
Zittert Luna's Zauberschein,
Und durch's Auge [schleicht]3 die Kühle
Sänftigend in's Herz hinein.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke Stuttgart und Tübingen, Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1833, Band 47, page 52. Note: modern spelling would change "Gluth" to "Glut" and "Fluth" to "Flut".

1 Diepenbrock: "Dort,"
2 some recent editions of Goethe's work have "im"
3 Grimm: "zieht"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
6.
Language: English 
Twilight sank from high above;
All that was near already is far,
Yet first is raised high
The fair light of the evening star!
Everything shakes with uncertainty,
A mist creeps slowly upward;
Darkness steeped in black
is reflected calmly in the sea.

Now in eastern areas
I feel the moon's brightness and glow,
Hair-like branches of slender willows
Play on the nearest tide.
Through the play of moving shadows
trembles Luna's magical shine,
And through my eyes creeps the cool air,
gently in toward my heart.

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: 16
Word count: 87

Translation © by Emily Ezust