English translations of Vier zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 42

by Wenzel Theodor Bradsky (1833 - 1881)

1. Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wenzel Theodor Bradsky (1833 - 1881), "Lied", op. 42 (Vier zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1873 [ 2-part chorus or vocal duet and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer,
[Nur]1 wie Schleier liegt [mein]2 Kummer
  Zitternd über mir.
Oft im Traume hör' ich dich
Rufen [draus vor meiner]3 Thür:
Niemand wacht und öffnet dir,
  Ich erwach' und weine bitterlich.

Ja ich werde sterben müssen,
Eine andre wirst du küssen,
  Wenn ich bleich und kalt.
Eh die Maienlüfte [wehen]4,
Eh die Drossel singt im Wald:
Willst du [mich noch einmal sehen]5,
  [Komm, o komme bald!]6

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Hermann Lingg, Fünfte vermehrte Auflage, Stuttgart, J. G. Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1864, page 72. Note: modern German would change the following spelling: "Thür" -> "Tür".

1 Röhmeyer: "Und"
2 Röhmeyer: "der"
3 Orff: "draus vor der"; Röhmeyer: "draußen vor der Tür"
4 Brahms: "wehn"
5 Brahms, Steuer: "mich noch einmal sehn"; Thuille: "einmal noch mich sehen"
6 Thuille: "Komme bald, o komme, komme bald!"

by Hermann von Lingg (1820 - 1905)
1. My slumber grows ever more peaceful
Language: English 
My slumber grows ever more peaceful;
and only like a thin veil now does my anxiety
lie trembling upon me.
Often in my dreams I hear you
calling outside my door;
no one is awake to let you in,
and I wake up and weep bitterly.

Yes, I will have to die;
another will you kiss,
when I am pale and cold.
Before the May breezes blow,
before the thrush sings in the forest:
if you wish to see me once more,
come, o come soon!

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: 14
Word count: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Im Walde  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wenzel Theodor Bradsky (1833 - 1881), "Im Walde", op. 42 (Vier zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1873 [ 2-part chorus or vocal duet and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Waldesnacht, du [wunderkühle]1, 
Die ich tausend Male grüß',
Nach dem lauten Weltgewühle,
O wie ist dein Rauschen süß!
Träumerisch die müden Glieder
Berg' ich weich [ins]2 Moos,
Und mir ist, als würd' ich wieder
All der irren Qualen los.

Fernes Flötenlied, vertöne,
Das ein weites Sehnen rührt,
Die Gedanken in die schöne,
Ach! mißgönnte Ferne führt.
Laß die Waldesnacht mich wiegen,
Stillen jede Pein!
Und ein seliges Genügen
Saug' ich mit den Düften ein.

In den heimlich engen Kreisen,
Wird dir wohl, du wildes Herz,
Und ein Friede schwebt mit leisen
Flügelschlägen niederwärts.
Singet, holde [Vögellieder]3,
Mich in Schlummer sacht!
Irre Qualen, löst euch wieder;
Wildes Herz, nun gute Nacht!

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Confirmed with [Paul Heyse], Der Jungbrunnen: Neue Märchen von einem fahrenden Schüler, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, Königl. Hofbuchhändler, 1850, page 35.

1 Frommer: "wundersüsse"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Kahn: "in"
3 Kahn: "Vogellieder"

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
2. Wondrously cool woodland night
Language: English 
Wondrously cool woodland night,
whom I greet a thousand times:
after the uproarious tumult of the world,
o how sweet is your rustling!
Dreamily I nestle my weary limbs
in your tender moss,
and it seems to me as if once more
I were free from all my insane anguish.

Distant fluting song, emerge and
stir a wide yearning,
with thoughts of the beloved,
ah! beguile the resented distance!
Let the woodland night lull me,
still every pain,
and a blissful satisfaction
permit me to drink in with its fragrances.

In narrow, secret circles,
you, wild heart, will know well
that peace hovers above with hushed
wing-beats, slowly descending.
Lovely birds, sing your lovely songs,
sing me gently into slumber!
Distracting torments, dissipate again;
wild heart, now good night!

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: 24
Word count: 129

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Hast du Jemand weh' gethan
by Wenzel Theodor Bradsky (1833 - 1881), "Hast du Jemand weh' gethan", op. 42 (Vier zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1873 [ 2-part chorus or vocal duet and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hast du Jemand weh' gethan
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

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by Clotilde von Schwartzkoppen
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Hollunderbaum  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wenzel Theodor Bradsky (1833 - 1881), "Hollunderbaum", op. 42 (Vier zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1873 [ 2-part chorus or vocal duet and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Da]1 droben auf jenem Berge steht
Ein Holunderbaum vom Wind umweht,
    Gewieget zu der Erden.

Die Nacht ist hell und die Luft ist kühl,
Zwei Buhlen die weinen der Thränen so viel,
    Sie müssen scheiden, ja scheiden.

Sie rissen mit Thränen, mit Thränen sich los,
Der Schmerz war tief, und der Schmerz war groß,
    Sie sahen sich niemals wieder.

Er zog wohl über's weite Meer,
Sie hört eine schaurige Todesmähr',
    Und ging weit über die Berge.

Verschollen ist ihr Nam' im Land,
Der Mond nur ihre Gräber fand,
    Drauf spielen die Lüfte des Maien!

Der grüne Baum steht droben noch
Mit tausend Blüten sprossend hoch,
    Gewieget zu der Erden.

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Confirmed with Otto Roquette, Liederbuch, Stuttgart und Tübingen: J.G. Cotta’scher Verlag, 1852, pages 185-186

1 Naubert: "Dort"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Otto Roquette (1824 - 1896)
4. Elder tree
Language: English 
There, high upon yonder mountain, stands
An elder tree blown about by the wind,
    Bowed to the earth.

The night is bright and the air is cool,
Two lovers are weeping so many tears,
    They must part, yes part.

With tears, with tears they wrested themselves away,
The pain was deep and the pain was great,
    They never saw each other again.

He travelled far across the broad ocean,
She heard a ghastly tale of death,
    And went far over the mountains.

Their names are no longer known in the land,
Only the moon found their graves,
    The May breezes play upon it!

The green tree still stands on high,
Burgeoning tall with thousands of blossoms,
    Bowed to the earth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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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Translations of title(s):
"Der Hollunderbaum" = "The elder tree"
"Hollunderbaum" = "Elder tree"
"Holunderbaum von Otto Roquette" = "Elder tree by Otto Roquette"
"Holunderbaum" = "Elder tree"



This text was added to the website: 2017-04-10
Line count: 18
Word count: 120

Translation © by Sharon Krebs