English translations of Zwei Lieder, opus 36

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

Return to the original list

1. Der zürnenden Diana
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der zürnenden Diana", op. 36 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1, D 707 (1820), published 1825 [ voice, piano ], Cappi und Comp., VN 60, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ja, spanne nur den Bogen, mich zu tödten,
Du himmlisch Weib! im zürnenden Erröthen
Noch reitzender. Ich werd' es nie bereuen:

Daß ich dich sah am blühenden Gestade
Die Nymphen überragen in dem Bade;
Der Schönheit Funken in die Wildniß streuen.

Den Sterbenden wird noch dein Bild erfreuen.
Er athmet reiner, er athmet freyer,
Wem du gestrahlet ohne Schleyer.

Dein Pfeil, er traf - doch linde rinnen
Die warmen Wellen aus der Wunde:
Noch zittert vor den matten Sinnen
Des Schauens süße letzte Stunde.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Please note: the title of this poem is not a mistake, as many have written to tell us. "Der" is the feminine dative case of the definite article; and the adjective that follows uses the proper matching weak-inflection ending.

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
1. To the angry Diana
Language: English 
Yes, draw your bow to kill me,
divine lady! in a wrathful blush
you are even more alluring. I will never regret:

Seeing you on the bushy bank,
towering over the nymphs in their bath,
spreading sparks of beauty in the wilderness.

Your image will gladden this dying man.
He breathes more purely, he breathes more freely -
he upon whom you shone unveiled.

Your arrow - it hits its mark - yet running gently
from the wound are warm waves.
My fading senses still tremble
as they look on you in this last sweet moment.

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: 13
Word count: 93

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Nachtstück
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Nachtstück", op. 36 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2, D 672 (1819), published 1825 [ voice, piano ], Cappi und Comp., VN 60, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn über Berge sich der Nebel breitet,
Und Luna mit Gewölken kämpft,
So nimmt der Alte seine Harfe, und schreitet,
Und singt waldeinwärts und gedämpft:
      "Du heil'ge Nacht!
      Bald ist's vollbracht.
      Bald schlaf ich ihn
      Den langen Schlummer,
      Der mich erlöst 
      Von allem Kummer."
   Die grünen Bäume rauschen dann,
   Schlaf süß du guter alter Mann;
   Die Gräser lispeln wankend fort,
   Wir decken seinen Ruheort;
   Und mancher liebe Vogel ruft,
   O laß ihn ruh'n in Rasengruft! -

Der Alte horcht, der Alte schweigt -
Der Tod hat sich zu ihm geneigt.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
2. Nocturne
Language: English 
When over the mountains mist is spread,
and Luna battles against the clouds,
then the old man takes his harp and strides
toward the forest, singing in a subdued voice:

"You holy night:
soon it will be over,
soon I shall sleep the long sleep
that will free me from every torment."

The green trees then murmur:
"Sleep sweetly, you good, old man..."
The grasses whisper as they wave:
"We will cover his place of rest..."

And many a lovely bird calls:
"O let him rest in his grassy tomb!"
The old man hears, the old man is silent;
[for] Death has [now] leaned toward him.

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: 16
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Ezust