English translations of Harfenspieler aus Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, opus 12

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

1. Harfenspieler I
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Harfenspieler I", op. 12 (Harfenspieler aus Goethe's Wilhelm Meister) no. 1, D 478 no. 1 (1816), published 1822, second setting (two versions: 1816 and 1822)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt
Ach! der ist bald allein,
Ein jeder lebt, ein jeder liebt,
Und läßt ihn seiner Qual.

Ja, laßt mich meiner Pein!
Und kann ich nur einmal
Recht einsam seyn,
Dann bin ich nicht allein.

Es schleicht ein Liebender lauschend ach!
Ob seine Freundin allein?
So überschleicht bei Tag und Nacht
Mich Einsamen die Pein,
Mich Einsamen die Qual.
Ach werd ich erst einmal
Einsam im Grabe seyn,
Da läßt ihr mich allein!

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First published in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Ein Roman. Herausgegeben von Goethe. Erster Band. Berlin. Bey Johann Friedrich Unger. 1795, pages 348-349. The poem appears in Book 2, Chapter 13 of Goethe's novel.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. He who gives himself over to solitude
Language: English 
He who gives himself over to solitude,
ah! he is soon alone;
everyone lives, everyone loves,
and everyone leaves him to his pain.

Yes! Leave me to my torment!
And can I only once
be truly lonely,
then I will not be alone.

A lover creeps up and listens softly -
is his beloved alone?
So, both day and night, does
the pain creep up on my solitude,
and the torment creep up on my loneliness.
Ah! only once, when
I am alone in my grave,
will it then truly leave me alone!

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: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Harfenspieler III
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Harfenspieler III", op. 12 (Harfenspieler aus Goethe's Wilhelm Meister) no. 2, D 480, D 478 no. 2 (1816), published 1822 [ voice and piano ], 3 versions: two in 1816, a further one in 1822. note: D. 480 has been removed and included in D. 478 as no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wer nie sein Brod mit Thränen aß,
Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte
Auf seinem Bette weinend saß,
Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte!
 
Ihr führt ins Leben uns hinein,
Ihr laßt den Armen schuldig werden,
Dann überlaßt ihr ihn der Pein:
Denn alle Schuld rächt sich auf Erden.

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First published in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Ein Roman. Herausgegeben von Goethe. Erster Band. Berlin. Bey Johann Friedrich Unger. 1795, page 346. The poem appears in Book 2, Chapter 13 of Goethe's novel.

See also Baggesen's parody, Leiden.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. He who never ate his bread with tears
Language: English 
He who never ate his bread with tears,
He who never, through miserable nights,
Sat weeping on his bed -
He does not know you, Heavenly Powers.

You lead us into life,
You let the wretched man feel guilt,
And then you leave him to his pain -
For all guilt avenges itself on earth.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 53

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Harfenspieler II
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Harfenspieler II", op. 12 (Harfenspieler aus Goethe's Wilhelm Meister) no. 3, D 479, D 478 no. 3 (1816), published 1822 [ voice and piano ], two versions: 1816 and 1822. note: D. 479 has been removed and included in D. 478 as no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An die Thüren will ich schleichen,
Fromm und sittsam will ich stehn;
Fromme Hand wird Nahrung reichen;
Und ich werde weiter gehn.
Jeder wird sich glücklich scheinen,
Wenn mein Bild vor ihm erscheint;
Eine Thräne wird er weinen,
Und ich weiß nicht was er weint.

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First published in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Ein Roman. Herausgegeben von Goethe. Dritter Band. Berlin. Bei Johann Friedrich Unger. 1795, page 146. The poem appears in Book 5, Chapter 14 of Goethe's novel.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. I will creep from door to door
Language: English 
I will creep from door to door;
Quiet and humble will I stand.
A pious hand will give me food,
And I shall go on my way.
Everyone will think himself lucky
When he sees me before him;
A tear will he shed,
But I won't know why he weeps.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 50

Translation © by Emily Ezust