English translations of Vier Gedichte von Goethe, opus 69

by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903)

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1. Wandrers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Wandrers Nachtlied", op. 69 (Vier Gedichte von Goethe) no. 1, published 1882 [ men's chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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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, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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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Line count: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Trost in Tränen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Trost in Tränen", op. 69 (Vier Gedichte von Goethe) no. 2, published 1882 [ men's chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie kommt's, daß du so traurig bist,
Da alles froh erscheint?
Man sieht dir's an den Augen an,
Gewiß du hast geweint.

"Und hab' ich einsam auch geweint,
So ist's mein [eigner]1 Schmerz,
Und Thränen fließen gar so süß,
Erleichtern mir das Herz."

Die frohen Freunde laden dich,
O komm an unsre Brust!
Und was du auch verloren hast,
[Vertraue]2 den Verlust.

"Ihr lärmt und rauscht und ahnet nicht,
Was mich den Armen quält.
Ach nein, verloren hab' ich's nicht,
So sehr es mir auch fehlt."

So raffe dich denn eilig auf,
Du bist ein junges Blut.
In deinen Jahren hat man Kraft
Und zum Erwerben Muth.

"Ach nein, erwerben kann ich's nicht,
Es steht mir gar zu fern.
Es weilt so hoch, es blinkt so schön,
Wie droben jener Stern."

Die Sterne, die begehrt man nicht,
Man freut sich ihrer Pracht,
Und mit Entzücken blickt man auf
In jeder heitern Nacht.

"Und mit Entzücken blick' ich auf,
So manchen lieben Tag;
Verweinen laßt die Nächte mich,
So lang' ich weinen mag."

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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, pages 96-97, and with Taschenbuch auf das Jahr 1804, Herausgegeben von Wieland und Goethe, Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, pages 115-116.

1 Schubert (in the autograph): "eigen"
2 Schubert (Friedlaender edition): "vertraure"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Comfort in tears
Language: English 
Why is it that you are so sad
When everything seems happy?
One can see from your eyes
That you have surely been weeping.

"And if I have been weeping alone,
It is my own sorrow,
And my tears flow so sweetly
That they make my heart light."

Your happy friends invite you,
O come to our bosom!
And whatever you have lost,
Confide in us your loss.

"You make noise and rush about and cannot understand
What it is that torments me, poor me.
And no, I have not lost anything,
Although I also lack it."

Then pick yourself up - hurry,
You are a young fellow.
At your age, one has the strength
And courage to gain what one wishes.

"Alas, no - I can never obtain it;
It is too far from me.
It dwells as high and flashes as beautifully
As that star up there."

One should not covet the stars,
One should merely rejoice in their splendour,
And with delight gaze up
At every serene night.

"And so I gaze up with delight
At so many a lovely day;
Let my nights then be spent in weeping,
So long as I may weep."

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: 32
Word count: 196

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Wandrers Nachtlied
 (Sung text)
by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Wandrers Nachtlied", op. 69 (Vier Gedichte von Goethe) no. 3, published 1882 [ men's chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der du von den Himmeln bist,
Alles Leid und Schmerzen stillest,
Den, der doppelt elend ist,
Doppelt mit Erquickung füllest,
Ach ich bin des Treibens müde!
Was soll all der Schmerz und Lust?
Süßer Friede,
Komm, ach komm in meine Brust!

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First published in Christliches Magazin Herausgegeben von Joh. Konrad Pfenninger, Dritter Band, 1780, page 243, with the musical setting by Ph. Ch. Kayser.

Notes
Line 1: Backer-Grøndahl’s score has a comma after the first word (likely a typo)
Line 8: Backer-Grøndahl's score has a typo in word 5 ("meiner" instead of "meine")

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Wanderer's night song
Language: English 
You who are from heaven,
You quiet all sorrow and pain;
And he who is doubly wretched
You fill with twice as much [comfort]1.
Ah! I am tired of being driven!
For what is all this pain and joy?
Sweet peace,
Come, ah, come into my heart!

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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1 for Schubert's version: "delight"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Rastlose Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Rastlose Liebe", op. 69 (Vier Gedichte von Goethe) no. 4, published 1882 [ men's chorus ]
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)
4. 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.
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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