English translations of Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 46

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Die Kränze
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Kränze", op. 46 (Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1864), published 1868, first performed 1873 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hier ob dem Eingang seid befestiget,
Ihr Kränze, so beregnet und benetzt
Von meines Auges schmerzlichem Erguß!
Denn reich zu thränen pflegt das Aug' der Liebe.
Dies zarte Naß, ich bitte,
Nicht allzu frühe träufet es herab.
Spart es, bis ihr vernehmet, daß sie sich
Der Schwelle naht mit ihrem Grazienschritte,
Die Theuere, die mir so ungelind!
Mit einem Male dann hernieder sei es
Auf ihres Hauptes goldne Pracht ergossen,
Und sie empfinde, daß es Thränen sind;
Daß es die Thränen sind, die meinem Aug'
In dieser kummervollen Nacht entflossen.

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Confirmed with Polydora, ein weltpoetisches Liederbuch von G. Fr. Daumer, Frankfurt am Main, Literarische Anstalt, 1855, p. 64.

by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
1. The wreaths
Language: English 
Here above the entrance be fastened,
You wreaths, so moistened and bedewed
By the painful outpouring of my eyes!
For the eyes of love tend to weep abundantly.
This tender moisture - I beg you
Not to shake it off too soon.
Cherish it until you hear that she
Is approaching the threshhold with her graceful step,
My dear one who is so unkind to me.
Then let it all at once be poured down
Onto the golden splendor of her head.
And she will realize that they are tears;
That they are the tears that my eyes
Have shed in this grief-filled 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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 103

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Magyarisch
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Magyarisch", op. 46 (Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1869 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sah dem edlen Bildnis in des Auges
Allzusüßen Wunderschein,
Büßte so des eigenen Auges heitern
Schimmer ein.

Herr mein Gott, was hast du doch gebildet
Uns zu Jammer und zu Qual
Solche dunkle Sterne mit so lichtem 
Zauberstrahl!

Mich geblendet hat für alle Wonnen
Dieser Erde jene Pracht;
All umher, wo meine Blicke forschen,
Ist es Nacht.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
2. Hungarian
Language: English 
I gazed at the noble image in her eyes'
All too sweet radiance,
Paying for it with my own eyes' 
Cheerful gleam.

O God, why have you created,
To our misery and torment,
 Such dark stars with such bright
 Magical rays?

 They have blinded me to all the wonders
 Of this earth's every splendor;
 All around me, wherever my gaze rests,
 It is 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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Die Schale der Vergessenheit
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Schale der Vergessenheit", op. 46 (Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1868), published 1868 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Eine Schale des Stroms, welcher Vergessenheit
Durch Elysiums Blumen rollt,
Bring, o Genius, bring deinem Verschmachtenden!
Dort, wo Phaon die Sängerin,
Dort, wo Orpheus vergaß seiner Eurydike,
Schöpf den silbernen Schlummerquell!

Ha! Dann tauch' ich dein Bild, spröde Gebieterin,
Und die lächelnde Lippe voll
Lautenklanges, des Haars schattige Wallungen,
Und das Beben der weißen Brust,
Und den siegenden Blick, der mir im Marke zuckt,
Tauch' ich tief in den Schlummerquell.

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Note: Hölty's original text is from 1776 (not published); the text of this song is the version revised by Voss.

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776) and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
3. The cup of oblivion
Language: English 
A goblet of the river Lethe which spreads oblivion
Through the flowers of Elysium,
O spirit, bring one to your thirsting servant! 
There, where Phaon forgot the singer Sappho,
There, where Orpheus forgot his Eurydice,
Ladle up the silver sleeping potion!

Ha! For there will I plunge your image, brittle, imperious one;
And your smiling lips full of 
Lute-music, your hair's shadowy waves,
The shaking of your white breast,
And that victorious gaze which pierces me through;
I will plunge all of them deep into oblivion.

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: 2003-11-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. An die Nachtigall
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An die Nachtigall", op. 46 (Vier Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 4 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1874 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geuß nicht so laut der liebentflammten Lieder
Tonreichen Schall
Vom Blütenast des Apfelbaums hernieder,
O Nachtigall.
Du tönest mir mit deiner süssen Kehle
Die Liebe wach;
Denn schon durchbebt die Tiefen meiner Seele
Dein schmelzend Ach.

Dann flieht der Schlaf von neuem dieses Lager,
Ich starre dann,
Mit nassem Blick, und todtenbleich und hager,
Den Himmel an.
Fleuch, Nachtigall, in grüne Finsternisse,
Ins Haingesträuch,
Und spend' im Nest der treuen Gattin Küsse;
Entfleuch, entfleuch!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludewig Heinrich Christoph Hölty. Besorgt durch seine Freunde Friederich Leopold Grafen zu Stolberg und Johann Heinrich Voß. Hamburg, bei Carl Ernst Bohn. 1783, page 157.

This poem makes use of some verses of Hölty's unfinished poem "An eine Nachtigall, die vor meinem Kammerfenster sang" and was included by Voß in his editions of Hölty's poems (see below).


by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
4. To the nightingale
Language: English 
 Do not pour forth your love-enflamed songs'
 Tuneful sounds so loudly,
 Down from the blossoming branch of the apple tree,
 O Nightingale!

 With your sweet throat, you call me and
 Awaken Love within me;
 For already the depths of my soul are stirred
 By your melting cry.

 Sleep flees once more from this place,
 I stare then
 With a tearful gaze, deathly pale and haggard,
 At the sky.

 Fly, nightingale, off into the green darkness,
 Into the bushy grove.
 And shower kisses on your faithful mate in your nest,
 Fly off, fly off!

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: 2003-11-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 94

Translation © by Emily Ezust