English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 56

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

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1. Willkommen und Abschied
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Willkommen und Abschied", op. 56 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 767 (1822), published 1826 [ voice and piano ], A. Pennauer, VN 258, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es schlug mein Herz; geschwind zu Pferde! 
Es war gethan fast eh' gedacht; 
Der Abend wiegte schon die Erde
Und an den Bergen hing die Nacht: 
Schon stand im Nebelkleid die Eiche
Ein aufgethürmter Riese da, 
Wo Finsterniß aus dem Gesträuche 
Mit hundert schwarzen Augen sah.

Der Mond von einem Wolkenhügel 
Sah kläglich aus dem Duft hervor, 
Die Winde schwangen leise Flügel, 
Umsaus'ten schauerlich mein Ohr; 
Die Nacht schuf tausend Ungeheuer; 
Doch frisch und fröhlich war mein Muth: 
In meinen Adern welches Feuer! 
In meinem Herzen welche Glut! 

Dich seh ich, und die milde Freude 
Floß von dem süßen Blick auf mich;
Ganz war mein Herz auf deiner Seite
Und jeder Athemzug für dich. 
Ein rosenfarbnes Frühlingswetter 
Umgab das liebliche Gesicht, 
Und Zärtlichkeit für mich - Ihr Götter! 
Ich hofft' es, ich verdient' es nicht! 

Doch ach schon mit der Morgensonne
Verengt der Abschied mir das Herz: 
In deinen Küssen, welche Wonne! 
In deinem Auge, welcher Schmerz! 
Ich ging, du standst und sahst zur Erden, 
Und sahst mir nach mit nassem Blick: 
Und doch, welch Glück geliebt zu werden! 
Und lieben, Götter, welch ein Glück!

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Note: First published 1775 in an earlier version as part of the poem Neue Liebe, Neues Leben (stanzas 4-7) in Iris. Zweyter Band. Drittes Stück.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Welcome and parting
Language: English 
My heart pounded, quick! to the horse!
It was done before I could think;
evening was already cradling the earth
and night hung upon the mountains:
already the oak stood clothed in mist,
a towering giant there,
where darkness from the bushes
peered with a hundred dark eyes!

The moon from a hill of cloud
looked pitifully down through the haze,
the wind stirred with gentle wings
murmuring eerily into my ear;
night created a thousand horrors;
but fresh and cheery was my mood:
in my veins, what fire!
in my heart, what passion!

You I saw and gentle joy
flowed from your sweet gaze to mine,
my heart was entirely at your side,
and every breath was for you.
Rose-colored spring
surrounded your lovely face,
and tenderness for me - oh you Gods!
I had hoped for this, but I do not deserve it!

But alas, already with the morning sun,
parting strangles my heart:
in your kisses, what bliss!
in your eyes, what pain!
I left, and you stood and looked down at the ground,
and then gazed after me with wet eyes:
and yet, what happiness to be loved!
And to love, Gods, what good fortune!

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 198

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. An die Leier
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An die Leier", op. 56 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, D 737 (1822/3), published 1826 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich will von Atreus' Söhnen,
Von Kadmus will ich singen!
Doch meine Saiten tönen
Nur Liebe im Erklingen.

Ich tauschte um die Saiten,
Die Leier möcht ich tauschen!
Alcidens Siegesschreiten
Sollt ihrer Macht entrauschen!

Doch auch die Saiten tönen
Nur Liebe im Erklingen!

So lebt denn wohl, Heroen!
Denn meine Saiten tönen
Statt Heldensang zu drohen,
Nur Liebe im Erklingen.

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by Franz Seraph Ritter von Bruchmann (1798 - 1867)
2. To the lyre
Language: English 
Of Atreus' sons,
And of Cadmus I wish to sing!
But my strings sound out
only love in their tones.

I have changed the strings,
and I would even switch lyres!
Alcides' victory march
should roar forth in its might!

Yet even these new strings sound out
only love in their tones!

So be well, then, heroes!
For my strings will sound out,
instead of suspenseful, heroic song,
only love in their tones.

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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 73

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Im Haine
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Im Haine", op. 56 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, D 738 (1822?), published 1826
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sonnenstrahlen
Durch die Tannen,
Wie sie fallen,
Ziehn von dannen
Alle Schmerzen,
Und im Herzen
Wohnet reiner Friede nur.

Stilles Sausen
Lauer Lüfte,
Und im Brausen
Zarte Düfte,
Die sich neigen
Aus den Zweigen,
Atmet aus die ganze Flur.

Wenn nur immer
Dunkle Bäume,
Sonnenschimmer,
Grüne Säume
Uns umblühten
Und umglühten,
Tilgend aller Qualen Spur!

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by Franz Seraph Ritter von Bruchmann (1798 - 1867)
3. In the wood
Language: English 
Sunbeams
through the fir-trees
falling,
Draw from there
all pain;
and in our hearts
dwells pure peace only.

The still murmuring
of mild breezes,
And the whispering
of delicate scents:
they float down
from the branches,
breathing gently on the entire meadow.

If only
the dark trees,
the shimmering sunlight,
and the green forest-edge,
could blossom
and glow around us all the time,
erasing every trace of pain!

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: 21
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust