English translations of Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 5

by Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927)

1. Abendwolke  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927), "Abendwolke", op. 5 (Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1893?), published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott (with no opus number); published 1896 in Leipzig by Kistner as opus 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So stille ruht im Hafen
Das tiefe Wasser dort,
Die Ruder sind entschlafen,
Die Schifflein sind im Port.

Nur oben in dem Äther
Der lauen Maiennacht,
Dort segelt noch ein später
Friedfertger Ferge sacht.

Die Barke still und dunkel
Fährt hin in Dämmerschein
Und leisem Sterngefunkel
Am Himmel und hinein.

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by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
1. Cloud at evening
Language: English 
So still in the harbor there
Lies the deep water,
The oars are all asleep,
The little ships are at port.

Yet above in the ether 
Of the balmy May evening,
A late night ferryboat
Gently sails there in tranquility.

A barque, silent and dark,
Ventures onward in the twilight
And the stars twinkle quietly
In the heaven and down below.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2023-05-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Unruhige Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927), "Unruhige Nacht", op. 5 (Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2 (1893?), published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott (with no opus number); published 1896 in Leipzig by Kistner as opus 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Heut' ward mir bis zum jungen Tag
Der Schlummer abgebrochen,
Im Herzen ging es Schlag auf Schlag
Mit Hämmern und mit Pochen,

Als trieb sich eine Bubenschar
Wild um in beiden Kammern,
Gewährt hat, bis es Morgen war,
Das Klopfen und das Hammern.

Nun weist es sich bei Tagesschein,
Was drin geschafft die Rangen,
Sie haben mir im Herzensschrein
Dein Bildnis aufgehangen!

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Confirmed with Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Gedichte, Leipzig: H. Haessel, 1882, page 157. Appears in 5. Liebe.


by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
2. Restless night
Language: English 
Today my slumbers were till dawn
beset by interruptions.
My heart produced with every beat
a hammering and a knocking,

As though a pack of scallywags
were chasing round both chambers.
This lasted till the morning came,
the tapping and the hammering.

The light of day has made it clear
What those small boys were doing:
Within the sanctum of my heart
Your portrait now is hanging!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by Peter Palmer, (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: 2012-05-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Peter Palmer
3. Eingelegte Ruder  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927), "Eingelegte Ruder", op. 5 (Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3 (1893?), published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott (with no opus number); published 1896 in Leipzig by Kistner as opus 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Meine eingelegten Ruder triefen,
Tropfen fallen langsam in die Tiefen. 

Nichts, daß mich verdroß! Nichts, daß mich freute!
Niederrinnt ein schmerzenloses Heute!

Unter mir - ach, aus dem Licht verschwunden -
Träumen schon die schönern meiner Stunden.

Aus der blauen Tiefe ruft das Gestern:
Sind im Licht noch manche meiner Schwestern?

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by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
3. Soaking oars
Language: English 
My soaking oars drip;
drops fall slowly into the depths.

There was nothing to irritate me!
There was nothing to delight me!
A painless Today is running down.

Below me - alas! vanished from the light -
the fairest of my hours already dream.

From the blue depths, Yesterday calls:
"Are my many sisters still in the light?"

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: 9
Word count: 56

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Liederseelen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927), "Liederseelen", op. 5 (Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1893?), published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott (with no opus number); published 1896 in Leipzig by Kistner as opus 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In der Nacht, die die Bäume mit Blüten deckt,
Ward ich von süßen Gespenstern erschreckt,
Ein Reigen schwang im Garten sich,
Den ich mit leisem Fuß beschlich;
Wie zarter Elfen Chor im Ring
Ein weißer, lebendiger Schimmer ging.
Die Schemen hab' ich keck befragt:
Wer seid ihr, luftige Wesen? Sagt!

"Ich bin ein Wölkchen, gespiegelt im See."
"Ich bin eine Reihe von Stapfen im Schnee."
"Ich bin ein Seufzer [gen]1 Himmel empor!"
"Ich bin ein Geheimnis, geflüstert ins Ohr!"
"Ich bin ein frommes, gestorbenes Kind."
"Ich bin ein üppiges Blumengewind -"
"Und die du wählst, und der's beschied
Die Gunst der Stunde, die wird ein Lied."

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1 Zumpe: "zum"

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
4. Souls of song
Language: English 
 In the night that covers the trees with blossoms,
 I was frightened by sweet ghosts:
 a row of them danced about the garden,
 into which I was creeping with light feet.
 Like a delicate elven choir in a ring,
 a white, living shimmer passed by.
 The phantoms I boldly asked:
 "Who are you, airy creatures? Tell me!"
 
 "I am a cloud, reflected in the lake."
 "I am a row of footsteps in the snow."
 "I am a sigh lifted to heaven!"
 "I am a secret, whispered in the ear!"
 "I am a pious, deceased child."
 "I am a lush wreath of flowers."
 "And that which you choose, and to which the Hours 
 show their goodwill, will become a new song."

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: 16
Word count: 120

Translation © by Emily Ezust