English translations of 3 Gedichte von Göthe, für 2 Soprane mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 104

by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869)

1. Die Freude
 (Sung text)
by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Die Freude", op. 104 (3 Gedichte von Göthe, für 2 Soprane mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1844), published 1845 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], Hannover, Bachmann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es flattert um die Quelle
Die wechselnde Libelle,
Mich freut sie lange schon:
Sie schwirrt und schwebet,
Und rastet nie, und rastet nie.
Bald dunkel... und bald helle,
wie der Chamäleon.
Bald rot, bald blau, bald grün.
o daß ich in der Nähe
doch ihre Farben sähe!
Doch stille! sie setzt sich an die Weiden.
Da hab' ich sie, und nun betracht' ich sie genau,
und seh' ein traurig dunkles Blau.

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1. Fluttering about the water-spring
Language: English 
Fluttering about the water-spring
Is the ever-changing dragonfly.
It has long been a source of joy for me.
It whirs and hovers
And never rests,
Now appearing dark, now appearing light,
Like the chameleon --
Now red, now blue, now green.
Oh, if I could only admire its colours up close!
But hush!  It is settling upon the willow!
Now I've got it!
And I examine it carefully
And see a sad, dreary blue.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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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This text was added to the website: 2008-03-26
Line count: 13
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. An Sami
 (Sung text)
by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "An Sami", op. 104 (3 Gedichte von Göthe, für 2 Soprane mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2 (1844), published 1845 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], Hannover, Bachmann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Als er, Sami, mit dir jüngst Blumen brach in dem Garten,
Stach ihn ein Bienchen, und heiß schmerzte die blutende Hand.
Weise rietest du ihm mit Erde zu kühlen die Wunde,
Und der brennende Schmerz schwand, und die Wunde ward heil.
Sami, wird auch die Wunde, die in dem Herzen ihm blutet,
Dann erst gekühlet und heil, wenn sie die Erde bedeckt?

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Note: see also the extremely similar poem by Justus Friedrich Zehelein titled Der Bienenstich.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. To Sami
Language: English 
 When recently Sami and you picked flowers in the garden, 
 a bee stung him, and hotly the bleeding hand ached. 
 Wisely, you did advise him, to cool the wound with earth, 
 and the burning pain dwindled, and the wound was healed.
 Sami! Sami, will also the bleeding wound of the heart,
 then first be cooled and healed, when it is covered with earth?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell and W. Kommer, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 64

Translation © by John H. Campbell, W. Kommer
3. März
 (Sung text)
by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "März", op. 104 (3 Gedichte von Göthe, für 2 Soprane mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1844), published 1845 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], Hannover, Bachmann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist ein Schnee gefallen,
Denn es ist noch nicht Zeit,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Wir werden hoch erfreut.

Der Sonnenblick betrüget
Mit mildem falschem Schein,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Warum? Sie kommt allein!

Sollt' ich mich einzeln freuen,
Wenn auch der Frühling nah?
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Gleich ist der Sommer da!

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3.
Language: English 
The snow has fallen;
it is not yet time
for all the flowers
for all the flowers
to delight us.
 
The sun swindles us
with a mild, false glow;
even the swallow is lying,
even the swallow is lying -
and why? because he comes alone!

Should I enjoy myself alone
when Spring is so close?
Yet if there were two of us,
yet if there were two of us,
it would all at once be Summer!

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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Translations of titles:
"März" = "March"
"Es ist ein Schnee gefallen" = "The snow has fallen"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 76

Translation © by Emily Ezust