English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 57
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)
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Wie soll ich nicht tanzen? Es macht keine Mühe, Und reizende Farben Schimmern hier im Grünen. Immer schöner glänzen Meine bunten Flügel, Immer süßer hauchen Alle kleinen Blüthen. Ich nasche die Blüthen; Ihr könnt sie nicht hüten. Wie groß ist die Freude, Sey's spät oder frühe, Leichtsinnig zu schweben Ueber Thal und Hügel. Wenn der Abend säuselt, Seht ihr Wolken glühen; Wenn die Lüfte golden, Scheint die Wiese grüner. Ich nasche die Blüthen, Ihr könnt sie nicht hüten.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Der Schmetterling", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 8, first published 1802
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Confirmed with Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1802. Herausgegeben von A. W. Schlegel und L. Tieck. Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1802, pages 140-141; and with Friedrich Schlegel's sämmtliche Werke. Erster Band. Gedichte. Berlin, bei Julius Eduard Hitzig, 1809, page 19.
Why should I not dance? It is no trouble to me, and delightful colors shimmer here in the green. Ever fairer gleam my colorful wings, ever sweeter breathe all the small blossoms. I'm tasting the blossoms; you cannot protect them! How great is the joy, be it late or early, of floating lightly over valley and hill. When evening rustles, you see the clouds glowing; when the air turns golden, the meadow seems greener. I'm tasting the blossoms; you cannot protect them.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Der Schmetterling", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 8, first published 1802
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 82
Sieht uns der Blick gehoben, So glaubt das Herz die Schwere zu besiegen; Zu den Himmlischen oben Will es dringen und fliegen. Der Mensch, empor geschwungen, Glaubt schon, er sey durch die Wolken gedrungen. Bald muß er staunend merken, Wie ewig fest wir auf uns selbst begründet. Dann strebt in sichern Werken Sein ganzes Thun, verbündet, Vom Grunde nie zu wanken, Und baut wie Felsen den Bau der Gedanken. Und dann in neuen Freuden Sieht er die kühnen Klippen spottend hangen; Vergessend aller Leiden, Fühlt er einzig Verlangen, An dem Abgrund zu scherzen, Denn hoher Muth schwillt ihm in hohem Herzen.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Die Berge", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 2, first published 1802
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Confirmed with Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1802. Herausgegeben von A. W. Schlegel und L. Tieck. Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1802, page 134; and with Friedrich Schlegel's sämmtliche Werke. Erster Band. Gedichte. Berlin, bei Julius Eduard Hitzig, 1809, page 13.
If our glance sees us uplifted, Then the heart believes it can conquer the heaviness, To the Heavenly Ones above It desires to surge and to fly; The man swung upward Already believes he has penetrated the clouds. Soon he must realize with astonishment, How eternally firmly we are based upon ourselves; Then, all of his actions strive In definite works, determined Never to falter from the basis [of his principles], And [he] builds the edifice of thoughts like rocky crags. And then in new joys He sees the bold cliffs mockingly standing; Forgetting all suffering, He feels only one yearning -- To jest at the cliff-edge, For high courage swells within his exalted heart.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Die Berge", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 2, first published 1802
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2013-10-25
Line count: 18
Word count: 114
Geuß, lieber Mond, geuß deine Silberflimmer Durch dieses Buchengrün, Wo Phantasien und Traumgestalten immer Vor mir vorüberfliehn! Enthülle dich, daß ich die Stätte finde, Wo oft mein Mädchen saß, Und oft, im Wehn des Buchbaums und der Linde, Der goldnen Stadt vergaß! Enthülle dich, daß ich des Strauchs mich freue, Der Kühlung ihr gerauscht, Und einen Kranz auf jeden Anger streue, Wo sie den Bach belauscht! Dann, lieber Mond, dann nimm den Schleier wieder, Und traur' um deinen Freund, Und weine durch den Wolkenflor hernieder, Wie dein Verlaßner weint!
Text Authorship:
- by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "An den Mond", written 1772, first published 1775
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The poet's name in the first edition (Göttinger Musenalmanach 1775) is given as "T.".
Pour, dear moon, pour your silver glimmer down through the greenery of beeches, where phantasms and dream-shapes are always floating before me! Reveal yourself, that I may find the place where my darling often sat, and often forgot, in the wind of beech and linden trees, the golden city. Reveal yourself, that I may enjoy the bushes which swept coolness to her, and that I may lay a wreath upon every meadow where she listened to the brook. Then, dear moon, then take up your veil again and mourn your friend, and weep through the clouds as one abandoned 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "An den Mond", written 1772, first published 1775
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: 100