English translations of 6 Lieder für Sopran , opus 10

by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893)

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1. Derweil ich schlafend lag  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Derweil ich schlafend lag", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 1, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Derweil]1 ich [schlafend]2 [lag]3,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag,
Sang vor dem Fenster auf dem Baum
Ein Schwälblein mir, [ich]4 hört' es kaum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag:

"Hör an, was ich dir sag'!
Dein Schätzlein ich verklag':
Derweil ich [dieses]2 singen tu',
Herzt [er]5 ein Lieb in guter Ruh,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag."

O weh! nicht weiter sag'!
O still! nichts hören mag!
[Flieg ab, flieg ab]6 von meinem Baum!
-- Ach, Lieb' und Treu' ist wie [ein]7 Traum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag.

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 31.

1 Deprosse, Distler: "Dieweil"
2 Leberl: "eben"
3 Bellerman: "fand"; further changes may exist not shown above
4 Distler: "man"
5 Rheinberger: "es"
6 Leberl: "Flieg ab"
7 Leberl: "im"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. An hour before daybreak
Language: English 
 As I lay sleeping,
 well an hour before daybreak,
 by my window on the tree there sang
 for me a little swallow; I could hardly hear it
 an hour before daybreak.
 
 "Listen well to what I say to you -
 your sweetheart I denounce:
 as I am singing this,
 he is clasping his love in good repose,
 an hour before daybreak."
 
 O woe! say no more!
 O silence! I want to hear no more!
 Fly away, fly away from my tree!
 Alas, love and fidelity are like a dream
 an hour before daybreak!

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: 15
Word count: 93

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Kehr' ein bei mir  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Kehr' ein bei mir", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 2, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist die Ruh,
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du,
Und was sie stillt.

Ich weihe dir
[Voll]1 Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung [hier]2
Mein Aug' und Herz.

Kehr' [ein bei mir]3,
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die [Pforten]4 zu.

Treib andern Schmerz
Aus dieser Brust.
Voll sey dies Herz
[Von]5 deiner Lust.

Dies Augenzelt
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll' es ganz.

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Confirmed with Oestliche Rosen von Friedrich Rückert. Drei Lesen. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. 1822, pages 125-126; and with Gesammelte Gedichte von Friedrich Rückert. Vierter Band. Erlangen, Verlag von Carl Heyder. 1837, pages 107-108.

Note: The poem was first published 1822 in Rückert's Oestliche Rosen where all the poems have no titles. In subsequent editions (Erlangen, 1837: Gesammelte Gedichte, Frankfurt a. M., 1868: Gesammelte Poetische Werke) this poem got the title Kehr' ein bei mir!

1 Karg-Elert: "In"
2 Hohfeld: "dir" (typo?)
3 Curschmann: "bei mir ein"
4 Rufinatscha: "Pforte"
5 Curschmann: "Voll"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. You are peace, the mild peace
Language: English 
You are peace,
The mild peace,
You are longing
And what stills it.

I consecrate to you
Full of pleasure and pain
As a dwelling here
My eyes and heart.

Come live with  me,
And close
quietly behind you
the gates.

Drive other pain
Out of this breast
May my heart be full
With your pleasure.

The tabernacle of my eyes
by your radiance
alone is illumined,
O fill it completely!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (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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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 71

Translation © by Lynn Thompson
3. O wär' ich ein See  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "O wär' ich ein See", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 3, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O wär' ich ein See, so spiegelhell,
  Und du die Sonne, die ihm blickte!
O wär' ich ein klarer Wiesenquell,
  Und du die Blume, die ihm nickte!

O wär' ich ein grüner Rosendorn
  Und du die Rose, die ihn schmückte!
O wär' ich ein süßes, süßes Korn,
  Und du der Vogel, der es pickte!

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Confirmed with Georg Daumer, Hafis. Eine Sammlung persischer Gedichte: nebst poetischen Zugaben aus verschiedenen Völkern und Ländern, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1846, page 9.


by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
3.
Language: English 
Oh, were I a lake, so mirror-bright,
  And you the sun, who looked at it!
Oh, were I a clear water-spring in the meadow,
  And you the flower who nodded at it!

Oh, were I a thorny green rosebush,
  And you the rose that adorned it!
Oh, were I a sweet, sweet kernel of wheat
  And you the bird who pecked it up!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 titles:
"Aus dem Hafis" = "From Hafiz"
"Aus Hafis" = "From Hafiz"
"Gedicht von Hafiz" = "Poem by Hafiz"
"O wär ich ein See" = "Oh, were I a lake"
"O, wär' ich ein See so spiegelhell" = "Oh, were I a lake so mirror-bright"
"Persisches Lied" = "Persian song"



This text was added to the website: 2025-01-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 63

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Du mit den schwarzen Augen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Du mit den schwarzen Augen", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 4, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du mit den schwarzen Augen,
Die schön sind wie die Sterne,
Soll ich den Tod mir saugen
Aus ihrem kühlen Schein?
Umsonst in alle Ferne
Hinaus die Blicke lenk' ich,
Ach, dein so viel gedenk' ich,
Und nimmer denkst du mein.
 
Tief in der Nacht voll Kummer
In öden Finsternissen
Wälz' ich mich ohne Schlummer,
Darf ja bei dir nicht sein.
Mein Wollen, Sinnen, Wissen
In's Meer der Liebe senk' ich --
Ach, dein so viel gedenk' ich,
Und nimmer denkst du mein.
 
All meine Sinne fluten
Zu dir, zu dir gewaltsam,
Brennender Sehnsucht Gluten
Rieseln durch mein Gebein.
Mit Thränen unaufhaltsam
Mein einsam Lager tränk' ich --
Ach, dein so viel gedenk' ich,
Und nimmer denkst du mein.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Juniuslieder, Zweite Periode, Siebzehnte Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1867, pages 27-28.


by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
4. You with the dark eyes
Language: English 
You with the dark eyes
That are as lovely as the stars,
Shall I suck death for myself
From their cool radiance?
In vain I cast my glance
Out into all the great distance,
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

Deep in the night of anguish,
In desolate darknesses,
I toss and turn without slumber,
For I am not permitted to be with you.
My volition, pondering, knowing
I sink into the sea of love --
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

All my senses surge
Toward you, toward you mightily,
The blaze of fervent yearning
Flutters through my bones.
My couch is wet
With unstoppable tears --
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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):
"Dein gedenk' ich!" = "I think of you!"
"Du mit den schwarzen Augen" = "You with the dark eyes"
"Neapolitanisch" = "Neapolitan"
"Neapolitanisches Lied" = "Neapolitan song"
"Sehnen" = "Longing"
"Sizilianisches Lied" = "Sicilian song"
"Und nimmer denkst du mein" = "And you never think of me"



This text was added to the website: 2024-03-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Seltsam ist Juanas Weise  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Seltsam ist Juanas Weise", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 5, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Seltsam ist Juanas Weise. 
Wenn ich steh' in Traurigkeit,
wenn ich seufz' und sage: heut,
"Morgen" spricht sie leise.

Trüb' ist sie, wenn ich mich freue;
lustig singt sie, wenn ich weine;
sag' ich, daß sie hold mir scheine,
spricht sie, daß sie stets mich scheue. 

Solcher Grausamkeit Beweise
brechen mir das Herz in Leid -
wenn ich seufz' und sage: heut,
"Morgen" spricht sie leise.

Heb' ich meine Augenlider,
weiß sie stets den Blick zu senken;
um ihn gleich empor zu lenken,
schlag' ich auch den meinen nieder. 

Wenn ich sie als Heil'ge preise,
nennt sie Dämon mich im Streit,
wenn ich seufz' und sage: heut,
"Morgen" spricht sie leise.

Sieglos heiß' ich auf der Stelle,
rühm' ich meinen Sieg bescheiden,
hoff' ich auf des Himmels Freuden,
prophezeit sie mir die Hölle. 

Ja, so ist ihr Herz von Eise,
säh' sie sterben mich vor Leid,
hörte mich noch seufzen: heut,
"Morgen" spräch' sie leise.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5. Juana's ways are strange
Language: English 
Juana's ways are strange.
When filled with sadness,
If I sigh and say: "Today,"
"Tomorrow," she says quietly.

Solemn is she when I rejoice;
Lustily she sings while I weep;
If I tell her that she is dear to me,
She protests that she is bashful.

Such signs of cruelty
Rend my heart with grief
If I sigh and say: "Today,"
"Tomorrow," she says quietly.

When I raise my eyes1, 
She always knows to lower hers;
To persuade her glance to rise once more,
I cast mine downward.

If I praise her as being divine,
She quarrels and calls me a demon.
If I sigh and say: "Today,"
"Tomorrow," she says quietly.

She brands me vanquished
If I boast of my triumphs,
When I hope for the joy of heaven,
She prophesizes to me about hell.

Yes, her heart is so icy,
If she saw me perishing for grief,
And heard me thus sigh: "Today,"
"Tomorrow," she'd say quietly.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Translation of title "Seltsam ist Juanas Weise" = "Juana's ways are strange"
1 literally, "eyelids"


This text was added to the website: 2011-07-06
Line count: 28
Word count: 161

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
6. Klinge mein Pandero  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Klinge mein Pandero", op. 10 (6 Lieder für Sopran ) no. 6, published 1864 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero,
Doch an andres denkt mein Herz.
 
Wenn du, muntres Ding, verständest
Meine Qual und sie empfändest,
Jeder Ton, den du entsendest,
Würde klagen meinen Schmerz.
 
Bei des Tanzes Drehn und Neigen
Schlag' ich wild den Takt zum Reigen,
Daß nur die Gedanken schweigen,
Die mich mahnen an den Schmerz.
 
Ach, ihr Herrn, dann will im Schwingen
Oftmals mir die Brust zerspringen,
Und zum Angstschrei wird mein Singen,
Denn an andres denkt mein Herz.

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Confirmed with Volkslieder und Romanzen der Spanier im Versmasse des Originals verdeutscht durch Emanuel Geibel, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1843, page 26


by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
6.
Language: English 
Ring, ring, my tambourine,
Yet, my heart dwells on other things.

If you, merry thing, could understand
And appreciate my suffering,
Each sound, that you produce,
Would bemoan my pain.

With each twist and dip of the dance
I mark the beat of the swirling frenzy,
To silence the thoughts
That only remind me of my pain.

O then, comrades, with wings
My breast longs to burst forth,
And my singing becomes a cry of anguish,
For my heart dwells on other things.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Translation of title "Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero" = "Ring, ring, my tambourine"


This text was added to the website: 2011-07-06
Line count: 14
Word count: 83

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall