English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 33

by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892)

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1. Wonne der Wehmut  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Wonne der Wehmut", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
Thränen der ewigen Liebe!
Ach! nur dem halbgetrockneten Auge
[Wie öde, wie todt die Welt ihm erscheint]1!
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
[Thränen unglücklicher Liebe!]2

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 108; and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, page 151.

1 Howe: "Wie öde, wie todt die Welt ihm erscheinet" ; Randhartinger: "Wie öde, wie tief die Welt ihm erscheint! / Wie öde, wie tot die Welt ihm erscheint" (note the use of "tief" in the first repetition of this line)
2 Randhartinger : "Tränen der ewigen Liebe!" (the second line is used instead of the last)

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. The joy of sadness
Language: English 
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of eternal love!
Even to the half-dry eye
How desolate and dead the world appears!
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of unhappy love!

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 "Wonne der Wehmut" = "The joy of sadness"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Gegenwart  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Gegenwart", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Alles kündet dich an!
Erscheinet die herrliche Sonne,
Folgst du, so hoff ich es, bald.

Trittst du im Garten hervor,
So bist du die Rose der Rosen,
Lilie der Lilien zugleich.

Wenn du zum Tanze dich regst,
So regen sich alle Gestirne
Mit dir und um dich umher.

Nacht! und so wär es denn Nacht!
Nun [überscheinst]1 du des Mondes
lieblichen, ladenden Glanz.

Ladend und lieblich bist Du,
Und Blumen, Mond und Gestirne 
huldigen, Sonne, nur Dir.

Sonne! so sei du auch mir
Die Schöpferin herrlicher Tage;
Leben und Ewigkeit ist's.

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1 Mendelssohn: "überstrahlst".

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Presence
Language: English 
 Everything announces your presence!
 When the majestic Sun appears,
 I hope you will follow soon.
 
 When you walk in the garden,
 you are the rose of roses
 and the lily of lilies at the same time.
 
 When you move in dance,
 all the stars move
 with you and about you.
 
 Night! and so it is then night!
 Now you outshine the moon's
 lovely, inviting gleam.
 
 You are attractive and lovely 
 and the flowers, moon and stars
 worship only you, my sun!
 
 My sun! be also to me
 the creator of majestic days;
 this is life and eternity.

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: 18
Word count: 98

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mailied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Mailied", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwischen Weizen und Korn,
Zwischen Hecken und Dorn,
Zwischen Bäumen und Gras,
Wo [gehts]1 Liebchen? 
Sag mir das.

  Fand mein Holdchen 
  Nicht daheim;
  Muß das Goldchen 
  Draußen sein.
  Grünt und blühet 
  Schön der Mai;
  Liebchen ziehet 
  Froh und frei.

An dem Felsen beim Fluß,
Wo sie reichte den Kuß,
Jenen ersten im Gras, 
Seh' ich etwas!
Ist sie das? --2

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Note: The modernized spelling of "Weizen" is "Waizen". See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

1 Huberti: "geht das"
2 Several composers (not Huberti, Medtner) add: "Das ist sie, das!"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. May song
Language: English 
Between wheat and corn,
Between thicket and thorn,
Between trees and grass,
Where has my sweetheart gone? 
Tell me.

  I did not find my darling 
  At home.
  My treasure 
  Must be outside.
  May is blooming 
  Green and fair -
  My love must be wandering, 
  Happy and free.

At the cliffs by the river,
where she bestowed the kiss,
that first one in the grass - 
Do I see something?
Is it she?

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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Translations of titles
"Mailied" = "May song"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Cupido, loser Knabe
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Cupido, loser Knabe", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Cupido, loser, eigensinniger Knabe!
Du batst mich um Quartier auf einige Stunden.
Wie viele Tag und Nächte bist du geblieben!
Und bist nun herrisch und Meister im Hause geworden!

Von meinem breiten Lager bin ich vertrieben;
Nun sitz ich an der Erde, Nächte gequälet;
Dein Mutwill schüret Flamm auf Flamme des Herdes,
Verbrennet den Vorrat des Winters und senget mich Armen.

Du hast mir mein Geräte verstellt und verschoben;
Ich such und bin wie blind und irre geworden.
Du lärmst so ungeschickt; ich fürchte, das Seelchen
Entflieht, um dir zu entfliehn, und räumet die Hütte.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. Cupid, mischievous boy
Language: English 
Cupid, mischievous, capricious boy!
You asked me to give you shelter for a few hours.
But how many days and nights you have remained!
And now you've become imperious as if you were the master of the house!

I have been ousted from my broad bed;
I sit now upon the earth, passing my nights in torment;
in your audacity, you stoke flame upon flame in the hearth,
burning up my store for winter and singing me on the arm.

You have hidden and displaced my belongings;
I search and it's as if I've gone blind or insane.
You make such blundering noise that I fear that my little soul
will flee, and in order to escape you, will move out of the hut entirely!

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: 125

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Schweizerlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Schweizerlied", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) 
[Uf'm]1 Bergli
Bin i [gesässe]2,
Ha de Vögle
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gesunge,
Hänt gesprunge,
Hänts Nästli
Gebaut.

In ä Garte
Bin i [gestande]3,
Ha de Imbli
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gebrummet,
Hänt gesummet,
[Hänt]4 Zelli
Gebaut.

Uf [d' Wiese]5
Bin i gange,
[Lugt'i]6 Summer-
vögle a;
Hänt gesoge,
Hänt gefloge,
Gar [z'schön hänt's]7
Gethan.

Und da kummt nu
[Der Hansel]8,
Und da zeig i
Em froh,
Wie sie's [mache]9,
Und mer [lache]10
Und [mache's]11
Au so.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 169-170; with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, pages 155-156; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Original-Ausgabe. Wien, 1816. Bey Chr. Kaulfuß und C. Armbruster. Stuttgart. In der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. Gedruckt bey Anton Strauß, pages 170-171.

1 Reichardt: "An ä"
2 Schubert: "gsässe"
3 Becker: "g'stande"; Schubert: "gstande"
4 Becker: "Hänt's"
5 Becker: "de Wiese"; Hiller: "di Wiese"
6 Becker: "Lug di"
7 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition): "zu schön hänt s'"; Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "zur schön hänts"
8 Becker: "Au der Liebste"
9 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "machen"
10 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "lachen"
11 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition): "machen's"; Schubert: "machens"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. The maiden in the meadow
Language: English 
On the hillside 
I sat,
Watching 
the birds;
They sang, 
they jumped;
They built 
nests.

In the garden 
I stood,
Watching 
the bees;
They hummed, 
they buzzed,
They built their 
hive.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Thomas A. Gregg, (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: 2007-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 31

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
6. Rastlose Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Rastlose Liebe", op. 33 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Dem]1 Schnee, [dem]1 Regen,
Dem Wind entgegen,
Im Dampf der Klüfte,
Durch Nebeldüfte,
Immer zu! Immer zu!
Ohne Rast und Ruh!

Lieber durch Leiden
[Möcht']2 ich mich schlagen,
Als so viel Freuden
Des Lebens ertragen.
Alle das Neigen
[Von]3 Herzen zu Herzen,
Ach wie so eigen
Schaffet [das]4 Schmerzen!

Wie soll ich [fliehen?]5
Wälderwärts [ziehen?]6
[Alles]7 vergebens!
Krone des Lebens,
Glück ohne Ruh,
Liebe, bist du!

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 93, and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, pages 147-148.

1 Harder: "Durch"
2 Schubert (Alte Gesamtausgabe): "Wollt'"; Greger: "Will"
3 Reichardt: "Der"
4 Schubert (2nd version, and 1st version in Alte Gesamtausgabe): "es"
5 Reichardt, Schubert: "flieh'n"
6 Reichardt, Schubert: "zieh'n"
7 Schubert: "Alles, alles"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
6. Restless love
Language: English 
To the snow, to the rain
To the wind opposed,
In the mist of the ravines
Through the scent of fog,
Always on!  Always on!
Without rest and peace!

I would rather through suffering
Fight myself,
Than so many joys
Of life endure.

All the inclining
Of heart to heart,
Ah, how curiously
that creates pain!

Where shall I flee?
To the forest move?
All in vain!
Crown of life,
Happiness without peace,
Love, are you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 76

Translation © by Lynn Thompson