English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 7

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

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1. Die abgeblühte Linde
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die abgeblühte Linde", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 514 (1817?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wirst du halten, was du schwurst,
Wenn mir die Zeit die Locken bleicht?
Wie du über Berge fuhrst,
Eilt das Wiedersehn nicht leicht.

Änd'rung ist das Kind der Zeit,
Womit Trennung uns bedroht,
Und was die Zukunft beut,
Ist ein blässer's Lebensroth.

Sieh, die Linde blühet noch,
Als du heute von ihr gehst;
Wirst sie wieder finden, doch
Ihre Blüthen stiehlt der West.

Einsam steht sie dann, vorbei
Geht man kalt, bemerkt sie kaum.
Nur der Gärtner bleibt ihr treu,
Denn er liebt in ihr den Baum.

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Note: No published source of this poem is known. Most likely Schubert received the text in manuscript form from Széchényi, the dedicatee of Schubert's op. 7.


by Sárvár-Felsővidéki gróf Széchényi Lajos (1781 - 1855)
1. The faded linden
Language: English 
Will you fulfill what you have sworn,
When time has bleached my locks?
As you've gone away over the mountains,
Hurrying to a reunion is not easy.

Change is the child of time,
With which parting threatens us,
And what the future holds
Is only a pale blush of life.

See, the linden blooms yet,
As you go from it;
You will see it again, although
Its blossoms will be stolen by the west wind.

Alone will it stand then; and past it
Will go indifferent people, hardly noticing it.
Only the gardener will remain true,
For he loves the tree for itself.

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 103

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Der Flug der Zeit
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Flug der Zeit", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, D 515 (1817?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es floh die Zeit im Wirbelfluge
Und trug des Lebens Plan mit sich.
Wohl stürmisch war es auf dem Zuge,
Beschwerlich oft und widerlich.

So ging es fort durch alle Zonen,
Durch Kinderjahre, durch Jugendglück,
Durch Thäler, wo die Freuden wohnen,
Die sinnend sucht der Sehnsucht Blick.

Bis an der Freundschaft lichtem Hügel
Die Zeit nun sanfter, stiller flog,
Und endlich da die raschen Flügel
In süßer Ruh zusammenbog.

Text Authorship:

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Note: No published source of this poem is known. Most likely Schubert received the text in manuscript form from Széchényi, the dedicatee of Schubert's op. 7.

by Sárvár-Felsővidéki gróf Széchényi Lajos (1781 - 1855)
2. The Flight of Time
Language: English 
Time flew by in a swirling flight
 And took with it the plan of life.
 Quite stormy was it during the journey,
 Often exhausting and unpleasant.

 Thus it went forth through every age,
 Through childhood years, through youthful happiness,
 And through valleys in which joys live,
 Sought by the reflective gaze of Longing...

Until, to the bright hill of friendship
Time came, flying now more gently and tranquilly;
 And there at last it bent its swift wings
 Together in sweet repose.

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: 12
Word count: 81

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Der Tod und das Mädchen
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Tod und das Mädchen", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, D 531 (1817), published 1821
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Mädchen
 Vorüber! Ach, vorüber!
 Geh wilder Knochenmann!
 Ich bin noch jung, geh Lieber!
 Und rühre mich nicht an.

Der Tod
 Gib deine Hand, Du schön und zart Gebild!
 Bin Freund, und komme nicht, zu strafen.
 Sey gutes Muths! ich bin nicht wild,
 Sollst sanft in meinen Armen schlafen!

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See also Josef von Spaun's response to Schubert's song: "Der Jüngling und der Tod".

by Matthias Claudius (1740 - 1815)
3. Death and the Maiden
Language: English 
The Maiden
 It's all over! alas, it's all over now!
 Go, savage man of bone!
 I am still young - go, devoted one!
 And do not molest me.

Death
 Give me your hand, you fair and tender form!
 I am a friend; I do not come to punish.
 Be of good cheer! I am not savage.
 You shall sleep gently in my arms.

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: 10
Word count: 62

Translation © by Emily Ezust