English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 23

by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913)

1. Nähe des Geliebten
 (Sung text)
by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Nähe des Geliebten", op. 23 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
Vom Meere strahlt;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
In Quellen mahlt.

Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
Der Staub sich hebt;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
Der Wandrer bebt.

Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
Die Welle steigt.
Im stillen Haine geh' ich oft zu lauschen,
Wenn alles schweigt.

Ich bin bei dir, du seyst auch noch so ferne,
Du bist mir nah!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
O wärst du da!

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Note: Wilhelmj's score has a typo in stanza 1, line 3: word 5 is "dich" instead of "sich".

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Near the beloved
Language: English 
I think of you when the sunlight shimmers,
beaming from the sea1;
I think of you when the moon's gleam
paints the streams.

I see you when, on distant roads,
the dust rises up;
in deep night, when on the narrow bridge
a traveler quivers.

I hear you when there, with a muffled roar,
the waves rise.
In the still grove I go often to listen,
when everything is silent.

I am with you, even if you are so far away.
You are near me!
The sun sinks, and soon the stars will shine for me.
O, if only you were here!

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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Translation of title "Nähe des Geliebten" = "Near the beloved"

1 in Beethoven's version, "seas"


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

Translation © by Emily Ezust

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

2. An die Entfernte 
Diese Rose pflück' ich hier
In der [fremden]1 Ferne,
Liebes [Mädchen]2, dir, ach dir,
Brächt' ich sie so gerne!

Doch bis ich zu dir mag ziehn
Viele weite Meilen,
Ist die Rose [längst]3 dahin;
Denn die Rosen eilen.

Nie soll weiter sich in's Land
Lieb' von Liebe [wagen]4,
Als sich blühend in der Hand
Läßt die Rose tragen;

Oder als die Nachtigall
Halme bringt zum Neste,
Oder als [ihr süßer]5 Schall
Wandert mit dem Weste.

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau’s sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [no year], page 173.

1 Mattiesen, Mendelssohn, Schoeck, Schulz-Weida: "weiten"
2 Lang: "Herze"
3 Schulz-Weida: "schnell"
4 Bartók: "scheiden"
5 Bartók, Schulz-Weida: "der süße"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler 
Rosen fliehen nicht allein
Und die Lenzgesänge,
Auch dein Wangenrosenschein,
Deine süßen Klänge.

O, daß ich, ein Thor, ein Thor,
Meinen Himmel räumte!
Daß ich einen Blick verlor,
Einen Hauch versäumte!

Rosen wecken Sehnsucht hier,
Dort die Nachtigallen,
Mädchen, und ich möchte dir
In die Arme fallen!

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau’s sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [no year], page 173.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. To the Distant One
I pick this rose here
In the [unknown]1 distance.
Dear [maiden]2, to you, ah to you
I would bring it so gladly!

But by the time I could travel to you
Many distant miles,
The rose would long be wilted;
For roses hasten [to die].

Never should lovers [venture]3
Farther from each other
Than a blooming rose may be
Carried in a person's hand [without wilting];

Or [farther] than the nightingale
Brings straws to its nest,
Or [farther] than [the nightingale's] sweet sounds
Are carried by the west wind.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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 Mattiesen, Mendelssohn, Schoeck: "great"
2 Lang: "Herze"
3 Bartók: "part"
Translated titles:
An die Entfernte = To the distant one
An die Entfernte I = To the distant one I
Der Entfernten = To the distant one
Diese Rose pflück' ich hier = I pick this rose here
Mit einer Rose = With a rose


Roses do not fade alone
And [neither do] the songs of spring,
Nor does the rosy glow of your cheeks
[Nor] the sweet sound [of your voice].

Oh that I, a fool, a fool,
Left my Heaven!
That I lost [the opportunity of seeing even] one [of your] glances,
[That I] missed out on [even] one breath!

My longing is awakened, here by roses,
there [by] nightingales,
Maiden, and I wish
To fall into your arms.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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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Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Aufschub der Trauer
 (Sung text)
by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Aufschub der Trauer", op. 23 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie dich die warme Luft umscherzt, 
Das schatt'ge Grün, o wie dich's kühlt! 
Wie leicht ist all das Weh verschmerzt, 
Das in der Seele wühlt! 

Des Liebchens Bildnis zeige sich 
In jedem Quell, an dem du stehst, 
Ein sanftes Lied beruh'ge dich, 
Wenn durch den Wald du gehst. 

Drum warte, bis der Winter naht, 
Bis alles starr und öde liegt, 
Und Reif und Schnee auf Flur und Saat 
Dich melancholisch wiegt!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
3. Postponement of mourning
Language: English 
How the warm breeze wafts jestingly about you,
The shady green, oh how it cools you!
How lightly one gets over all the hurt,
[The hurt] that burrows in your soul!

May your beloved’s image be revealed
In every water-spring at which you stand,
May a gentle song calm you
When you walk through the forest.

Therefore wait until winter nears,
Until everything lies immovable and desolate,
And the frost and snow upon meadow and upon what was sown
Rocks you with melancholy!

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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2017-10-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 83

Translation © by Sharon Krebs