English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 13

by Anton Beer

1. An die Wolke  [sung text not yet checked]
by Anton Beer , "An die Wolke", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], München, Schmid Nachf.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zieh nicht so schnell vorüber
An dieser stillen Haide,
Zieh nicht so scheu vorüber
An meinem tiefen Leide,
Du Wolke in der Höh',
Steh still bei meinem Weh!

O nimm auf deine Schwingen
Und trag zu ihr die Kunde:
Wie Schmerz und Groll noch ringen,
Und bluten aus der Wunde,
Die mir [durch ihren]1 Trug
Die Ungetreue schlug.

Und kommst auf deinen Wegen
Du an vor ihrem Hause,
So stürze dich als Regen
Herunter mit Gebrause,
Daß sie bei dunkler Nacht
Aus ihrem Traum erwacht.

Schlag' [an die Fensterscheibe]2,
Und schlag' an ihre Thüre,
Und sei dem falschen Weibe
Ein Mahner an die Schwüre,
Die sie mir weinend sprach,
Und die sie lächelnd brach.

Und will sie das nicht hören,
So magst von deinem Sitze,
Du, Donner, dich empören,
Dann rüttelt, all' ihr Blitze,
Wenn ihr vorüberzieht,
An ihrem Augenlied [sic]!

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau's sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [1883], pages 48-49.

Note provided by Sharon Krebs:
Lenau originally published this poem with a different second stanza, but later he wrote: "Mein Herz eine Waise zu nennen, und obendrein eine verblutende, war von mir weichlich und läppisch, und ich schäme mich sechstausendmal beim Wiederlesen dieser verunglückten Zeilen, denn eben so oft sind sie gedruckt in der Leute Händen." Here is the original second stanza:

Und nimm auf deine Reise
Mit fort zu ihr die Kunde:
Mein Herz, die arme Waise,
Verblutet an der Wunde,
Die mir durch ihren Trug
Die Ungetreue schlug.

1 Franz: "mit ihrem"
2 Franz: "Regen an die Scheibe"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. To the cloud
Language: English 
Do not scud so quickly 
Past this quiet heath,
Do not scud so shyly 
Past my deep pain;
You cloud on high,
Stand still at my suffering!

[Oh take upon your pinions
This message and carry it to her:
How pain and rancour still wrestle,
And bleed from the wound]1
That, through her deception,
The unfaithful woman caused me.

And if upon your pathways
You arrive at her house,
Then as rain plunge down
With a roar,
So that in the dark night
She wakens from her dreams.

[Beat against]1 the window pane,
And beat against her door,
And to the false woman 
Be an admonisher, [reminding her] of the vows
That she spoke to me with weeping,
And that she smilingly broke.

And if she does not wish to hear,
Then from your high seat, you,
Thunder, may rise up,
Then, all ye lightning bolts,
When you pass by,
Buffet at her eyelids!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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1 Lenau originally published this poem with the following lines, but later he wrote:: "To call my heart an orphan, and on top of that, an orphan who is bleeding to death, was weak and silly of me, and I am ashamed six thousand times when I reread these unsuccessful lines, for that is exactly how many times they are in peoples' hands in published form."
 And upon your journey take
Along this message to her:
My heart, the poor orphan,
Is bleeding to death from the wound.
1 Franz: "Beat rain against"


This text was added to the website: 2020-04-30
Line count: 30
Word count: 156

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Bitte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Anton Beer , "Bitte", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], München, Schmid Nachf.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weil' auf mir, du dunkles Auge,
Übe deine ganze Macht,
Ernste, milde, [träumerische]1,
Unergründlich süße Nacht!

Nimm mit deinem Zauberdunkel
Diese Welt von hinnen mir,
Daß du über meinem Leben
Einsam schwebest für und für.

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau's sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [1883], page 11.

1 Bolko von Hochberg: "zauberische"; Sjögren: "träumereiche"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. Linger on me, dark eyes
Language: English 
Linger on me, dark eyes -
exert your entire power,
somber, mild, dream-like,
unfathomably sweet night.

With your magic darkness
take from me this world,
so that above my life
you alone will float forever and ever.

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: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Liebesfeier  [sung text not yet checked]
by Anton Beer , "Liebesfeier", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], München, Schmid Nachf.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[An]1 ihren bunten Liedern klettert
Die Lerche selig in die Luft;
Ein Jubelchor von Sängern schmettert
Im Walde, voller Blüt' und Duft.

Da sind, so weit die Blicke gleiten,
Altäre festlich aufgebaut,
Und all die tausend Herzen läuten
Zur Liebesfeier dringend laut.

Der Lenz hat Rosen angezündet
An Leuchtern von Smaragd im Dom;
Und jede Seele schwillt und mündet
Hinüber in den Opferstrom.

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1 Metzdorff: "Aus"; further changes may exist not noted above.

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
3. Love's festival
Language: English 
 On her varied songs the lark climbs
 blissfully into the air;
 a jubilant choir of singers sings lustily
 in the wood, full of blossom and fragrance.
 
 There, as far as the eye can see,
 festive altars have been built,
 and a thousand hearts all call out
 for love's festival, loudly and strongly.
 
 Spring has set the roses afire with light
 on the candelabra of emerald in the cathedral;
 and every soul swells and overflows
 into the stream of offerings.

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: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust