English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 82

by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

1. Lasst mich allein!
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Lasst mich allein!", op. 82 (Vier Lieder) no. 1 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laßt mich allein in meinen Träumen geh'n,
   Stört mir die Wollust nicht in meinem Herzen!
   Laßt mir die Wonne all', laßt mir die Schmerzen,
Die mich erfüllen, seit ich ihn geseh'n!

Laßt mich allein! Verscheucht den Frieden nicht
   In meiner Brust mit euren lauten Worten!
   Daß ich ihn seh' und höre aller Orten:
Laßt mich allein mit seines Bildes Licht.

Fragt nach dem Zauber nicht, der mich erfüllt;
   Ihr könn't die Seligkeit ja doch nicht fassen,
   Die seine Liebe mich hat fühlen lassen,
Die Liebe, die nur mir, mir einzig gilt.

Laßt mich allein, allein mit meiner Last
   Von heißer Qual, von loderndem Entzücken;
   Und sollt' es dich, du armes Herz, erdrücken:
Du trägst allein, was du vom Liebsten hast!

Laßt mich allein in meinen Träumen steh'n!
   Er liebt mich ja! Laßt mir den tiefen Frieden,
   Den dieses Wort mir gab, von dem geschieden,
Die Seele müßt' in Sehnsucht untergeh'n.

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Confirmed with O. Malybrok-Stieler, Lyrische Gedichte und Uebertragungen nach böhmischer Kunst- und Volks-Poesie, Prag: Druck und Verlag von J. Otto, 1887, page 18.


by Ottilie Kleinschrod, née Stieler (1830 - 1913), as Ottilie Malybrok-Stieler
1. Leave me alone!
Language: English 
Leave me to walk alone in my dreams,
   Do not disturb the ecstasy within my heart!
   Leave me all the rapture, leave me the pains
That have filled me ever since I saw him!

Leave me alone! Do not dispel the peace
   Within my breast with your loud words!
   That I may see him and hear him everywhere:
Leave me alone with the light of his image.

Do not inquire after the magic that fills me;
   In any case, you could not comprehend the bliss
   That his love has allowed me to feel,
The love that is for me, only me alone.

Leave me alone, alone with my burden
   Of fervent agony, of blazing rapture;
   And if it should crush you, my poor heart:
You bear only that which you received from the beloved!

Leave me to stand alone in my dreams!
   For he loves me! Leave me the deep peace
   That this word gave me; separated from that [word],
My soul would have to perish in yearning.

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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This text was added to the website: 2017-06-29
Line count: 20
Word count: 168

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die Stickerin
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Die Stickerin", op. 82 (Vier Lieder) no. 2 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie groß ist doch der Segen,
  Der in der Arbeit liegt!
Sie kommt auf Leidenswegen 
Als Engel uns entgegen,
  Und Thrän' auf Thräne versiegt. 

Oft meint' ich zu vergehen 
  In allzu bitt'rem Schmerz!
So lang die Augen sehen,
Beim Sticken und beim Nähen,
  Wie wird so still das Herz!

Den Trost in Leidensstunden
  Gibt nur die Arbeit mir;
Sie heilt die Herzenswunden,
Durch sie hab' ich gefunden
  Mein Heil auf Erden hier.

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by Ottilie Kleinschrod, née Stieler (1830 - 1913), as Ottilie Malybrok-Stieler
2. The seamstress
Language: English 
Oh how great is the blessing
  That lies in work!
Upon our sorrowful paths it comes
Toward us like an angel,
  And tear upon tear dries.

Often I thought I would dissolve
  In all-too-bitter pain!
As long as my eyes can see,
When I am embroidering and when I am sewing,
  How my heart grows so quiet!

Comfort in sorrowful hours
  Is only given to me by work;
Work heals the heart's wounds,
Through work I have found
  My salvation here upon earth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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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This text was added to the website: 2022-01-07
Line count: 15
Word count: 83

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Frühling
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Frühling", op. 82 (Vier Lieder) no. 3 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Küßt der Sonnenschein die Erde,
   Fühlt sie seine Glutgewalt:
Dann entkeimen ihrem Schoße
   Blumen bunt und mannigfalt.

So auch keimt in Deiner Nähe
   Lied auf Lied aus meiner Brust;
Fühl' ich Deines Auges Flammen,
   Athm' ich Deines Wesens Lust.

Fehlt das Sonnenlicht der Erde,
   Hat sie nicht ein grünes Blatt,
Wie mein Herz, von Dir geschieden,
   Weder Lenz noch Lieder hat.

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Confirmed with O. Malybrok-Stieler, Lyrische Gedichte und Uebertragungen nach böhmischer Kunst- und Volks-Poesie, Prag: Druck und Verlag von J. Otto, 1887, page 14.


by Ottilie Kleinschrod, née Stieler (1830 - 1913), as Ottilie Malybrok-Stieler
3. Spring
Language: English 
When the sunshine kisses the earth
   It feels [the sun’s] radiant power:
Then from its womb arise
   Flowers, colourful and manifold.

Thus when I am near you,
   Song upon song arises in my breast;
When I feel the flames of your eyes,
   I breathe in the rapture of your being.

When the earth is lacking sunlight,
   It has not a single green leaf,
Just as my heart, separated from you,
   Has neither spring nor songs.

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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This text was added to the website: 2017-06-29
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Am Bache
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Am Bache", op. 82 (Vier Lieder) no. 4 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise rinnt der Bach und klaget,
   Weil er muß vorüber zieh'n
An den lieblich schönen Blumen,
   Die am grünen Ufer blüh'n.

Sollt' ihr Bild im eig'nen Herzen
   Er auch wiederstrahlen seh'n,
Muß er doch vorüber eilen,
   Darf nicht kosend stille steh'n.

Bächlein! Trägst mein eig'nes Leiden;
   Muß ja kalt und schweigend geh'n
Von der allerschönsten Blume
   Fort auf Nimmer-Wiederseh'n!

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Confirmed with O. Malybrok-Stieler, Lyrische Gedichte und Uebertragungen nach böhmischer Kunst- und Volks-Poesie, Prag: Druck und Verlag von J. Otto, 1887, page 15.


by Ottilie Kleinschrod, née Stieler (1830 - 1913), as Ottilie Malybrok-Stieler
4. At the brook
Language: English 
The brook flows quietly and laments
   Because it has to flow past
The dear, lovely flowers
   That bloom along the green banks.

Though it might see [the image of the flowers]
   Reflected in its own heart,
It must nevertheless hasten past;
   It is not permitted to stand still caressingly.

Brooklet! You bear my own suffering;
   I, too, must walk coldly and silently
Away from the most beautiful flower,
   Never to see her again!

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: 

Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2017-06-29
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs