English translations of Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) und Pianoforte, opus 57
by Alexander Fesca (1820 - 1849)
[In einem kühlen Grunde]1 da geht ein Mühlenrad, mein Liebchen ist verschwunden, [die]2 dort gewohnet hat. Sie hat mir Treue versprochen, gab mir einen Ring dabei, sie hat die Treue gebrochen, das Ringlein sprang entzwei. Ich möcht' als Spielmann reisen [weit]3 in die Welt hinaus, und singen meine Weisen und [gehn]4 von Haus zu Haus. Ich möcht' als Reiter fliegen wohl in die blut'ge Schlacht, [um stille]5 Feuer liegen [Im Feld bei dunkler]6 Nacht. [Hör' ich]7 das Mühlrad gehen, [Ich]8 weiß nicht, was ich will, Ich möcht' am liebsten sterben, Dann wär's auf einmal still.
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Das zerbrochene Ringlein", appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen
- sometimes misattributed to Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Note: Kreutzer's version is sometimes erroneously credited to Uhland. The original poem is also sometimes titled "Untreue" and substitutes "Liebste" for "Liebchen" in line 1-3.
2 Kreutzer: "das"
3 Kreutzer: "wohl"
4 Kreutzer: "zieh'n"
5 Kreutzer: "an stillem"
6 Kreutzer: "einsam bei kühler"
7 Kreutzer: "Ich hör"
8 Kreutzer: "und"
In a cool valley there turns a mill-wheel; Gone is my darling who had lived there. She promised to be constant and gave me a ring to prove it; she has broken her faith and my ring cracked in two. I would like to journey as a minstrel into the wide world out there, and sing my melodies going house to house. I would like to dash as a horseman into bloody battle, to lie around a quiet fire in the field at darkest night. When I hear the mill-wheel turning, I do not know what I want - I want most of all to die, for then the wheel would at a single blow be silent.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Das zerbrochene Ringlein", appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen and misattributed to Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 116
Warum sinnst du so verlassen Dort in stiller Einsamkeit? Steig herab von der Terrasse, Schwarzgelockte schöne Maid! Hang an trüben Nachtgedanken Stumm und traurig nicht so sehr, Komm, auf meiner leichten Gondel Zieh hinaus in’s weite Meer. Herrlich strahlt der Mond am Himmel, Uns umhaucht die laue Nacht, Wir durchfliegen die Lagunen, Und Venedigs stolze Pracht. Raschen Flugs ist, wie die Möve, Meine Gondel schmuck and schlank, Und im leichten, flücht'gen Gleichmaass Tönt der Ruderschläge Klang. Einer holden Blume gleichst du, Schön und lieblich anzuschaun. Komm', und woll' im süssen Kosen Dich der Liebe anvertraun. Einst beherrscht' auf gold'ner Muschel Venus das krystall'ne Grab; Goldne Muschel ist mein Nachen, Liebesgöttin, komm herab.
Text Authorship:
- by Franz Servais August Gathy (1800 - 1858), "Gondolierlied"
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with Beethoven-Album. Ein Gedenkbuch dankbarer Liebe und Verehrung für den grossen Todten, gestifter und beschrieben von einem Vereine von Künstlern und Kunstfreunden aus Frankreich, England, Italien, Deutschland, Holland, Schweden, Ungarn und Russland, Stuttgart: Hallberger'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, [1846], page 294
Why do you brood so forlornly There in quiet solitude? Descend from the terrace, Beautiful maiden with the raven curls! Do not cling, mute and sad, So tightly to dismal night-thoughts, Come, in my light gondola Go out onto the wide sea. Gloriously the moon shines in the heavens, The warm night wafts about us, We fly through the lagoons, And through the proud splendour of Venice. As rapid as a seagull in flight Is my gondola, trim and slender, And in a gentle, fleeting even rhythm Sound the strokes of the oars. You are like a lovely flower, Beautiful and charming to see. Come, and in sweet caresses Entrust yourself to love. Once upon a golden seashell Venus reigned over the crystal grave; My boat is a golden seashell, Goddess of love, descend.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Franz Servais August Gathy (1800 - 1858), "Gondolierlied"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 134