English translations of Sechs Gesänge, opus 28

by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892)

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1. Ich lieb' eine Blume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Ich lieb' eine Blume", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 1, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche;
Das macht mir Schmerz.
Ich schau' in alle Blumenkelche
Und such' ein Herz.

Es duften die Blumen im Abendscheine,
Die Nachtigall schlägt.
Ich such' ein Herz, so schön wie das meine,
So schön bewegt.

Die Nachtigall schlägt, und ich verstehe
Den süßen Gesang:
Uns beiden ist so bang' und wehe,
So weh und bang.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. I love a flower
Language: English 
I love a flower, if 'tis requited, I know not,
that gives me pain.
I look into all flower-blooms
and seek a heart.

Flowers are fragrant in the evening-light;
the nightingale sings,
I search for a heart, as beautiful as mine,
that moves as beautifully.

The nightingale sings, and I understand
the sweet song:
we're both so anxious and sad,
so sad and anxious.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by John H. Campbell
2. Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 2, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Derweil ich schlafend lag,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag,
Sang vor dem Fenster auf dem Baum
Ein Schwälblein mir, ich hört' es kaum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag:

"Hör an, was ich dir sag'!
Dein Schätzlein ich verklag':
Derweil ich dieses singen tu',
Herzt er ein Lieb in guter Ruh,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag."

O weh! nicht weiter sag'!
O still! nichts hören mag!
Flieg ab, flieg ab von meinem Baum!
-- Ach, Lieb' und Treu' ist wie ein Traum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. An hour before daybreak
Language: English 
 As I lay sleeping,
 well an hour before daybreak,
 by my window on the tree there sang
 for me a little swallow; I could hardly hear it
 an hour before daybreak.
 
 "Listen well to what I say to you -
 your sweetheart I denounce:
 as I am singing this,
 he is clasping his love in good repose,
 an hour before daybreak."
 
 O woe! say no more!
 O silence! I want to hear no more!
 Fly away, fly away from my tree!
 Alas, love and fidelity are like a dream
 an hour before daybreak!

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: 15
Word count: 93

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Nachtlied", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 3, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Mond kommt still gegangen
Mit seinem [goldnen Schein]1,
Da schläft [in]2 holdem Prangen 
Die müde Erde ein.

Im Traum die Wipfel weben,
Die Quellen rauschen sacht;
Singende Engel durchschweben
Die [blaue]3 Sternennacht

Und auf den Lüften schwanken
Aus manchem treuen Sinn
Viel tausend Liebesgedanken
Über [die]4 Schläfer hin.

[Und]5 drunten im [Thale, da funkeln]6
Die Fenster von Liebchens Haus;
Ich aber [blicke]7 im Dunkeln
Still in die [Welt]8 hinaus.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 18.

Note: in Lachner's score, the first word of stanza 4 is "Da" but becomes "Und" in the repetition.

1 Bernoully: "holden Schein"; Thuille: "Silberschein"
2 Grimm: "mit"
3 Würst: "laue"
4 Würst: "den"
5 Lachner: "Da"
6 Kinkel: "Thale funkeln", Umlauft: "Tal, da funkeln"
7 Thuille: "blick'"
8 Umlauft: "Nacht"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. The moon so peaceful rises
Language: English 
The moon so peaceful rises
with all its golden shine,
here sleeps in lovely glitter
the weary earth below.

[...
...
...
...]

And on the breezes waft down
from many faithful hearts
true loving thoughts by the thousand
upon the sleeping ones.

And down in the valley, there twinkle
the lights from my lover's house;
but I in darkness still look out -
silent - into the world.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 63

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
4. Nebel  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Nebel", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 4, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du, trüber Nebel, [hüllest]1 mir
Das Tal mit seinem Fluß,
Den Berg mit seinem Waldrevier,
[Und jeden]2 Sonnengruß.

Nimm fort in deine graue Nacht
Die Erde weit und breit!
Nimm fort, was mich so traurig macht,
Auch die Vergangenheit.

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1 Strauss: "hüllst"
2 Strauss: "Mit jedem"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
4. Fog
Language: English 
You dreary fog, you shroud for me
The valley with its river,
The mountain with its forest range
[And]1 every greeting of the sun.
 
Take away into your grey night
The earth, far and wide!
Take away that which makes me so sad,
The past as well.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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Translated titles:
"Nebel" = "Fog"
"Du trüber Nebel hüllest mir" = "You dreary fog, you shroud for me"

1 Strauss: "with"


This text was added to the website: 2016-07-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Verborgenheit
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Verborgenheit", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 5, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

Was ich traure, weiß ich nicht,
Es ist unbekanntes Wehe;
Immerdar durch Tränen sehe
Ich der Sonne liebes Licht.

Oft bin ich mir kaum bewußt,
Und die helle Freude zücket
Durch die Schwere, so mich drücket,
Wonniglich in meiner Brust.

Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

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Note to stanza 3, line 3: in some anthologies this line is given erroneously as "Durch die Schwere, die mich drücket."

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
5. Seclusion
Language: English 
Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

What I mourn, I know not.
It is an unknown pain;
Forever through tears shall I see
The sun's love-light.

Often, I am scarcely conscious
And the bright joys break
Through the pain, thus pressing
Delightfully into my breast.

Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
6. Um Mitternacht
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Um Mitternacht", op. 28 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 6, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bedächtig stieg die Nacht an's Land,
Lehnt träumend an der Berge Wand,
Ihr Auge sieht die goldne Wage nun 
Der Zeit in gleichen Schalen stille ruhn;
  Und kecker nur rauschen die Quellen hervor,
  Sie singen der Mutter, der Nacht, in's Ohr
    Vom Tage,
  Vom heute gewesenen Tage.

Das uralt alte Schlummerlied,
Sie achtet's nicht, sie ist es müd';
Ihr klingt des Himmels Bläue süßer noch,
Der flücht'gen Stunden gleichgeschwung'nes Joch.
  Doch immer behalten die Quellen das Wort,
  Es singen die Wasser im Schlafe noch fort
    Vom Tage, 
  Vom heute gewesenen Tage.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
6. At midnight
Language: English 
The night ascends calmly over the land,
leaning dreamily against the wall of the mountain,
its eyes now resting on the golden scales 
of time, in a similar poise of quiet peace;
and boldly murmur the springs,
singing to Mother Night, in her ear,
of the day 
that was today.

To the ancient lullaby
she pays no attention; she is weary.
To her, the blue heaven sounds sweeter,
the curved yoke of fleeing hours.
Yet the springs keep murmuring,
and the water keeps singing in slumber
of the day 
that was today.

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 "Um Mitternacht" = "At midnight"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust