English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 65

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

1. Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren", op. 65 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 360 (1816), published 1826 [ voice, piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dioskuren, Zwillingssterne,
Die ihr leuchtet meinem Nachen,
Mich beruhigt auf dem Meere
Eure Milde, euer Wachen.

Wer auch, fest in sich begründet,
Unverzagt dem Sturm begegnet;
Fühlt sich doch in euren Strahlen
Doppelt muthig und gesegnet.

Dieses Ruder, das ich schwinge,
Meeresfluthen zu zertheilen;
Hänge ich, so ich geborgen,
Auf an eures Tempels Säulen.

Text Authorship:

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Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts in handwriting; the manuscripts of his cycle Heliopolis, dedicated to Franz von Schober, are preserved in the Vienna City Library. The printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later. This poem (originally no. 20 of the cycle) is not part of the cycle in the printed edition of 1843.

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
1. Song of the sailors to the Dioscuri
Language: English 
Dioscuri, twin stars
that shine upon my skiff,
you comfort me on the ocean
with your mildness and your watchfulness.

He who firmly believes in himself
and unswervingly meets the storm
feels himself, in your light,
doubly courageous and blessed.

This oar that I ply
to part the ocean waves,
I shall hang, once I am safe on land,
upon your temple's pillars.

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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Translation of title "Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren" = "Song of the sailors to the Dioscuri"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Der Wanderer
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Wanderer", op. 65 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, D 649 (1819), published 1826 [ voice and piano ], Cappi & Czerny, VN 221, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie deutlich des Mondes Licht
Zu mir spricht,
Mich beseelend zu der Reise:
"Folge treu dem alten Gleise,
Wähle keine Heimath nicht.
Ew'ge Plage
Bringen sonst die schweren Tage.
Fort zu andern
Sollst du wechseln, sollst du wandern,
Leicht entfliehend jeder Klage."

Sanfte Ebb' und hohe Fluth,
Tief im Muth,
Wandr' ich so im Dunkeln weiter,
Steige muthig, singe heiter,
Und die Welt erscheint mir gut.
Alles reine
Seh' ich mild im Wiederscheine,
Nichts verworren
In des Tages Gluth verdorren:
Froh umgeben, doch alleine.

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by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829)
2. The wanderer
Language: English 
How clearly the moon's light
Speaks to me,
Inspiring me to journey;
"Follow truly the ancient path,
Choose no homeland whatsoever.
Otherwise the heavy days bring
Endless troubles ;
Away, to the other
Should you change, should you wander,
Lightly shedding every woe."
 
Gentle ebb and lofty flood,
Deep in courage,
I wander farther in darkness,
I climb bravely, singing cheerfully,
And the world seems good to me.
All pureness
See I softly in the twilight,
Without confusion
Fading in the day's afterglow:
Surrounded by joy, but alone.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Richard Hurley, (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: 2009-12-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 87

Translation © by Richard Hurley
3. Heliopolis I
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Heliopolis I", alternate title: "Aus Heliopolis I", op. 65 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, D 753 (1822), published 1826 [ voice, piano ], Cappi & Czerny, VN 221, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im kalten, rauhen Norden
Ist Kunde mir geworden
Von einer Stadt, der Sonnenstadt.
Wo weilt das Schiff, wo ist der Pfad,
Die mich zu jenen Hallen tragen?
Von Menschen konnt' ich nichts erfragen, -
Im Zwiespalt waren sie verworren.
Zur Blume, die sich Helios erkoren,
Die ewig in sein Antlitz blickt,
Wandt' ich mich nun, - und ward entzückt:

»Wende, so wie ich, zur Sonne
Deine Augen! Dort ist Wonne,
Dort ist Leben; 
Treu ergeben,
Pilg're zu, und zweifle nicht;
Ruhe findest du im Licht;
Licht erzeuget alle Gluten, -
Hoffnungspflanzen, Thatenfluten!«

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts in handwriting; the manuscripts of his cycle Heliopolis, dedicated to Franz von Schober, are preserved in the Vienna City Library. The printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later and presents the texts in a revised version. This poem (originally no. 5 of the cycle) is now no. 1 of the cycle in the printed edition. Here the cycle is preceded by a motto: 

Ein altes Thema, vorgetragen
In grauen Zeiten, laß uns variiren!
Wir dürfen, wenn wir auch Ikarisiren -
Uns öfters noch zur Sonne wagen!
1821.

by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
3.
Language: English 
In the cold, rough north
I received word
of a city - the city of the sun.
Where awaits the ship, where is the path
to bring me to those halls?
From men could I ascertain nothing,
for, in dissention, they were confused.
To the flower, which Helios chose himself,
and which always gazes toward his face,
I now turned, and was enchanted.

"Turn, as I do, toward the sun
your eyes! There is bliss,
there is Life; truly devoted,
forge ahead toward it and do not doubt;
peace will you discover in the light.
 Light produces all the fires,
all the fruit of hope, and all the floods of deeds.

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

Note: this is a translation of Schubert's sung text.

Translation of title "Aus Heliopolis I" = "From Heliopolis I"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 110

Translation © by Emily Ezust