English translations of Zwei Lieder, opus 22

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

1. Der Zwerg
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Zwerg", op. 22 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1, D 771 (1823?), published 1823
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im trüben Licht verschwinden schon die Berge,
Es schwebt das Schiff auf glatten Meereswogen,
Worauf die Königinn mit ihrem Zwerge.

Sie schaut empor zum hochgewölbten Bogen,
Hinauf zur lichtdurchwirkten blauen Ferne,
Die mit der Milch des Himmels blaß durchzogen.

Nie habt ihr mir gelogen noch, ihr Sterne,
So ruft sie aus, bald werd' ich nun entschwinden,
Ihr sagt es mir, doch sterb' ich wahrlich gerne.

Da tritt der Zwerg zur Königinn, mag binden
Um ihren Hals die Schnur von rother Seide,
Und weint, als wollt' er schnell vor Gram erblinden.

Er spricht: Du selbst bist schuld an diesem Leide,
Weil um den König du mich hast verlassen:
Jetzt weckt dein Sterben einzig mir noch Freude.

Zwar werd' ich ewiglich mich selber hassen,
Der dir mit dieser Hand den Tod gegeben,
Doch mußt zum frühen Grab du nun erblassen.

Sie legt die Hand auf's Herz voll jungem Leben,
Und aus dem Aug die schweren Thränen rinnen,
Das sie zum Himmel bethend will erheben.

Mögst du nicht Schmerz durch meinen Tod gewinnen!
Sie sagt's, da küßt der Zwerg die bleichen Wangen,
D'rauf alsobald vergehen ihr die Sinnen.

Der Zwerg schaut an die Frau, vom Tod befangen,
Er senkt sie tief in's Meer mit eig'nen Handen,
Ihm brennt nach ihr das Herz so voll Verlangen, -
An keiner Küste wird er je mehr landen.

Text Authorship:

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Note: This is the first version of Collin's poem. A later, slightly modified version, with the title Der Zwerg, has been published posthumously in 1827 (see below).

by Matthäus Kasimir von Collin (1779 - 1824)
1. The dwarf
Language: English 
Into the gloomy light, the mountains are already disappearing
On flat sea waves floats a boat:
on board are the queen and her dwarf.

She gazes up into the high-arched vault,
into the blue, light-woven distance
that with the milk of the sky is streaked blue.

"Never, never have you lied to me yet, you stars."
So she cries, "and soon I will vanish,
you tell me; but in truth, I will die gladly."

Then the dwarf steps up to the queen
to bind a red silk cord around her neck,
and he weeps as if he wanted to blind himself with grief.

He speaks: "You yourself are to blame for this suffering
because you have forsaken me for the king.
Now only your death will awaken joy in me.

"It is true I will hate myself forever
for having bestowed death on you with my own hand;
but now, pale, you must go to your early grave."

She lays her hand on her heart full of youthful life,
and heavy tears run from her eyes
that she would lift imploringly to the heavens.

"May you suffer no pain through my death!"
she says; the dwarf kisses her pale cheeks
and in that moment her senses leave her.

The dwarf gazes at the lady, overcome with death,
and sinks her deep into the sea with his own hands.
His heart burns with desire for her;
upon no coast will he ever land again.

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: 28
Word count: 243

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Wehmut
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Wehmut", op. 22 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2, D 772 (1822?), published 1823
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich durch Wald und Fluren geh,
Es wird mir dann so wohl und weh
In unruhvoller Brust.
So wohl, so weh, wenn ich die Au,
In ihrer Schönheit Fülle schau',
Und all' die Frühlingslust.

Denn, was im Winde tönend weht,
Was aufgethürmt gen Himmel steht,
Und auch der Mensch, so hold vertraut,
Mit all' der Schönheit, die er schaut,
Entschwindet, und vergeht.

Text Authorship:

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Note: This is the first version of Collin's poem. A later version, with the title Naturgefühl, has been published posthumously in 1827 (see below).

by Matthäus Kasimir von Collin (1779 - 1824)
2. Melancholy
Language: English 
When I walk through wood and field,
I feel so good and then so melancholy
in my unquiet breast.
So good, so melancholy, when I see the meadow
in the fullness of its beauty,
and all the joy of Spring.

For whatever blows resounding in the wind,
whatever stands towering up toward Heaven,
and man too, so dearly familiar
with all the beauty that he sees,
will disappear and die.

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: 11
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust