English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 23

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

1. Die Liebe hat gelogen
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die Liebe hat gelogen", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 751 (1822), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 367, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Liebe hat gelogen,
Die Sorge lastet schwer,
Betrogen, ach, betrogen
Hat alles mich umher!

Es fließen heiße Tropfen
Die Wange stets herab,
Laß ab, mein Herz, zu klopfen,
Du armes Herz, laß ab!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
1. Love has lied
Language: English 
Love has lied,
Worries burden me heavily;
I am deceived, alas! deceived
By everything around me!

[Bright tears run]1
Down my cheeks;
[Cease, cease your beating,
Cease, my heart, cease!]2

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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1 Schubert: "Hot tears stream"
2 Schubert: "Cease, my heart, your beating --/ You poor heart, stop!"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 30

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Selige Welt
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Selige Welt", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, D 743 (1822?), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 367, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich treibe auf des Lebens Meer,
Ich sitze gemuth in meinem Kahn,
Nicht Ziel, noch Steuer hin und her,
Wie die Strömung reißt, wie die Winde gahn.

Eine selige Insel sucht der Wahn,
Doch eine ist es nicht.
Du lande gläubig überall an,
Wo sich Wasser an Erde bricht.

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Note: Schubert received Senn's poem in handwritten form. Senn did not publish it in any printed edition.


by Johann Chrysostomos Senn (1795 - 1857)
2. Blessed world
Language: English 
I float upon the ocean of life,
I sit happily in my boat,
With neither destination nor rudder, [going] here and there
As the current flows, as the winds blow.

Folly seeks the blessed island,
But there isn't one.
You will disembark anywhere with full trust,
Wherever water breaks on land.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-09-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Schwanengesang
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Schwanengesang", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, D 744 (1822?), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 367, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
»Wie klag' ich's aus
Das Sterbegefühl,
Das auflösend
Durch die Glieder rinnt?

Wie sing' ich's aus
Das Werdegefühl,
Das erlösend
Dich, o Geist, anweht?«

Er klagt', er sang
Vernichtungsbang,
Verklärungsfroh,
Bis das Leben floh.

Das bedeutet des Schwanen Gesang!

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Note: Schubert received Senn's poem in handwritten form. Senn issued it later in the book mentioned above, with the footnote In Musik gesetzt von Fr. Schubert.

by Johann Chrysostomos Senn (1795 - 1857)
3. The singing of the swan
Language: English 
"How do I lament it forth,
This feeling of dying,
Which disintegratingly
Runs through my limbs?

How do I sing it forth,
This feeling of becoming,
Which redeemingly
Wafts, oh spirit, toward you?"

It lamented, it sang
Fearful of annihilation,
Glad of transfiguration,
Until life fled.

That [is]1 the swan’s singing!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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):
"Schwanengesang" = "The singing of the swan"
"Schwanenlied" = "The song of the swan"

1 Schubert: "is the meaning of"


This text was added to the website: 2017-05-02
Line count: 13
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Schatzgräbers Begehr
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Schatzgräbers Begehr", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, D 761 (1822)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In tiefster Erde ruht ein alt Gesetz,
Dem treibt mich's, rastlos immer nachzuspüren;
Und grabend kann ich Andres nichts vollführen,
Wohl spannt auch mir die Welt ihr goldnes Netz,

Wohl tönt auch mir der Klugheit seicht Geschwätz:
»Du wirst die Müh und Zeit umsonst verlieren.«
Das soll mich nicht in meiner Arbeit irren,
Ich grabe glühend fort, so nun, wie stets.

Und soll mich nie des Findens Wonne laben,
Sollt' ich mein Grab mit dieser Hoffnung graben:
Ich steige gern hinab, gestillt ist dann mein Sehnen.

Drum lasset Ruhe mir in meinem Streben!
Ein Grab mag man wohl jedem gerne geben,
Wollt ihr es denn nicht mir, ihr Lieben, gönnen?

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Note: Schubert received all poems from Schober in handwritten form. A (possibly later) autograph of this sonnet is kept in the Vienna City Library.

by Franz Adolf Friedrich von Schober (1796 - 1882)
4. Treasure-hunter's plea
Language: English 
Deep in the earth there lies an ancient law
which I am driven restlessly to seek;
and while I delve I can do no other deed.
The world may spread its golden net to snare me,

and worldly wisdom's empty drivel sound:
"You waste your time and effort all for nothing" --
that will not deflect me from my task;
I dig away with fervor as before.

And if discovery's joy will not be mine,
if moved by hope I only dig my grave,
yet I descend by choice, my yearning stilling.

Leave me then in peace to my quest,
a grave to every man is gladly given,
would you then, friends, begrudge me one of mine?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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: 2011-01-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 116

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin