English translations of Drei Gesänge, opus 73

by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900)

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1. Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Nachtlied", op. 73 (Drei Gesänge) no. 1, published 1891 [ SATB quartet with piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Quellende, schwellende Nacht,
Voll von Lichtern und Sternen:
In den ewigen Fernen,
Sage, was ist da erwacht?

Herz in der Brust wird beengt;
Steigendes, neigendes Leben,
Riesenhaft fühle ich's weben,
Welches das meine verdrängt.

Schlaf, da nahst du dich leis',
Wie dem Kinde die Amme,
Und um die dürftige Flamme
Ziehst du den schützenden Kreis.

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by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
1. Night song
Language: English 
Flowing, swelling night,
full of lights and stars:
in the endless distances,
speak: what has awakened out there?

The heart in my breast is crowded
with the rise and fall of life;
I feel it weaving about me, an immense thing
that squeezes mine out.

Sleep, you approach gently
as the nurse approaches a child;
and about this paltry flame
you form a protective circle.

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: 65

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Das Vöglein
 (Sung text)
by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Das Vöglein", op. 73 (Drei Gesänge) no. 2, published 1891 [ SATB quartet with piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vöglein vom Zweig
 Gaukelt hernieder;
Lustig sogleich
 Schwingt es sich wieder.

Jetzt dir so nah,
 Jetzt sich versteckend;
Abermals da,
 Scherzend und neckend.

Tastest du zu,
 Bist du betrogen,
Spottend im Nu
 Ist es entflogen.

Still! Bis zur Hand
 Wird's dir noch hüpfen,
Bist du gewandt,
 Kann's nicht entschlüpfen.

Ist's denn so schwer
 Das zu erwarten?
Schau' um dich her:
 Blühender Garten!

Ei, du verzagst?
 Laß' es gewähren,
Bis du's erjagst,
 Kannst du's entbehren.

Wird's doch auch dann
 Wenig nur bringen,
Aber es kann
 Süßestes singen.

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by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
2.
Language: English 
A little bird from a branch
  Flutters down:
Cheerful at once
  It leaps away again.

Now so near to you,
  Now hiding itself;
Again right there,
  Pleasant and playful.

If you touch it,
  It will elude you,
Mocking, in a flash
  It flies away.

Quiet! Right by your hand
  It will hop about,
If you are clever,
  It can't escape.

Is it so difficult
  For you to wait?
Look around you here:
  A blooming garden!

Oh, are you disheartened?
  Let it go,
As soon as you ensnare it,
  You can miss it.

In the meantime
  It brings only very little,
But it can
  Sing most sweetly.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Emily Romney, (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 of title "Das Glück" = "Happiness"


This text was added to the website: 2011-08-10
Line count: 28
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Romney
3. Meeresleuchten
 (Sung text)
by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Meeresleuchten", op. 73 (Drei Gesänge) no. 3, published 1891 [ SATB quartet with piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus des Meeres dunklen Tiefen
  Stieg die Venus still empor,
Als die Nachtigallen riefen
  In dem Hain, den sie erkor.

Und zum Spiegel, voll Verlangen,
  Glätteten die Wogen sich,
Um ihr Bild noch aufzufangen,
  Da sie selbst auf ewig wich.

Lächelnd gönnte sie dem feuchten
  Element den letzten Blick,
Davon blieb dem Meer sein Leuchten
  Bis auf diesen Tag zurück.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Friedrich Hebbel. Gesammt-Ausgabe stark vermehrt und verbessert, Stuttgart und Augsburg, J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1857, page 258.


by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
3. The Shining Sea
Language: English 
Out from the sea's dark depths
Venus rose quietly upward,
As the nightingales called 
in the woods that she chose.

And the waves smoothed themselves
as unto a mirror, full of longing.
They still endeavour to capture her image,
that she herself forever softened.

Smiling, she graciously allowed 
to the wet element a final exposure,
which remains as a result upon the sea
until this very day.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Andrew Schneider, (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: 2019-04-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Andrew Schneider