English translations of Sechs deutsche Lieder, opus 14

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

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1. Aus der Novelle: Die Mathildenhöhle
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Aus der Novelle: Die Mathildenhöhle", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 1 (1840), published 1848, stanzas 1-3,6 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel; republished 1882 with the title "O sehntest du dich so nach mir"
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  O sehntest Du Dich so nach mir,
Wie ich nach Dir,
Du kämst zu mir.

  Mein Aug ist nur nach Dir ein Strahl
Voll süßer Qual;
O komm' einmal!

  In meinem Ohr an jedem Ort
Tönt immerfort
Dein liebes Wort.

 ... 

  O sehntest Du Dich so nach mir,
Wie ich nach Dir,
Du wärst schon hier!

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by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
1. From the Novella: The Mathilda-Cave
Language: English 
  Oh, if you yearned for me
As I for you,
You would come to me.

  My eye is nothing but a beam [of light] seeking you,
Full of sweet torture.
Oh come!

  In my ear, everywhere,
Constantly echoes
Your dear word!

[ ... ]

  If you yearned for me
As I for you,
You would already be here!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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:
"Aus der Novelle: Die Mathildenhöhle" = "From the Novella: The Mathilda-Cave"
"O sehntest du dich so nach mir" = "Oh, if you yearned for me"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 18
Word count: 82

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
2. Am Fluße
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Am Fluße", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 2 (1841), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Eilende Wellen
Spielend im Licht,
Wenn sie zerschellen,
Achten sie's nicht!
 
Sterne da schweifen
Viel tausend im Fluß;
Gleich wieder greifen
Sie einen zum Kuß!
 
In Schmerzen und Scherzen,
Spielen mir so
Die Lieder im Herzen
Unwandelbar froh.
 
Ist eines verklungen,
Ich denk' ihm nicht nach,
Kommt wieder gesprungen
Ein anderes nach.
 
Und fängt einen Funken
Vom Lichte geschwind,
Worin mir so trunken
Das Leben verrinnt.
 
Im Lichte der Liebe
Voll himmlischer Ruh',
O selig Getriebe,
So treibe nur zu!

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Note: in Lang's song, stanza 2 has two different variants in the repetitions: “viel tausend zum Kuss" and "gleich wieder greifen sie wieder zum Kuss".

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
2.
Language: English 
Hurrying waves
[Frolic]1 in the light,
When they break,
They do not heed it!
 
Stars rove in the river
By the thousands;
[The waves immediately
Catch and kiss one of them again.]2
 
Thus, in [jesting and in pain]3
Songs play,
Within my heart
In unchangeable joy.
 
If one [of the songs] fades away,
I do not hanker after it,
For another song
Immediately leaps into its place,
 
And quickly catches
A spark from the light
Wherein, intoxicated,
My life [flees]4.
 
[From]5 the light of love,
Full of heavenly peace,
Oh blessed commotion,
Bustle onward thus!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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View original text (without footnotes)
Translation of title "Am Fluße" = "At the river"
1 Lang: "Frolicking"
2 Lang has two variants when she repeats the text: “many thousands and kiss them" and "immediately again the waves catch them once more and kiss them"
3 Lang: "pain and in jesting"
4 Lang: "flows away"
5 Lang: "In"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 24
Word count: 101

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Gedenke mein
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Gedenke mein", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 3 (1840), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Gedenke mein! Die lieben Augen lenke
In stillen Nächten oft nach mir!
Ich denke dein, wenn ich des Liebsten denke,
Und, was ich schaffe, weih' ich dir.
 
   Gedenke mein, wenn dir die Thränen kommen!
Dir weint mein ganzes Leben nach.
So rasch gegeben, rascher noch genommen,
Und Lust und Leid ein einzig Ach!
 
   Gedenke mein im heißen Kampf des Lebens,
Und denk', daß er auch mich verzehrt!
Du weißt es ja, wir ringen nicht vergebens,--
So werden wir einander werth.
 
   Gedenke mein, wenn Freude macht dich lächeln,
Und sende mir in Traum dein Bild
Als einen Engel mir die Stirn zu fächeln,
Wenn mir die Aussicht wird zu wild!
 
   Gedenke mein! Versprich es, treue Seele!
Sieh als ein schöner Stern mich an,
Dem ich darf anvertrauen, was mir fehlet,
Wenn ich mir selbst nicht helfen kann!
 
   Gedenke mein! Ich weiß, du wirst es halten;--
So sind wir nimmermehr getrennt.
Die Flamme eint' sich noch, die jetzt vergebens
In zwei verwandten Herzen brennt.

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by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
3. Think of me
Language: English 
  Think of me! Turn your dear eyes
Often toward me in the quiet nights!
I think of you when I think of what I love best
And what I create, I dedicate to you.
 
   Think of me, when your tears come!
My whole life laments your departure.
You were so quickly given to me, then taken away even more quickly,
And joy and pain are a single sigh!
 
   Think of me in the hard battle of life,
And think that the battle consumes me as well!
For you know, we do not struggle in vain,--
Thus we become worthy of each other.
 
   Think of me when joy makes you smile,
And send me your image in a dream
As an angel come to fan my brow
When the prospect of the future overwhelms me!
 
   Think of me! Promise it, faithful soul!
Gaze upon me like a beautiful star
To whom I may confess all my woes
When I cannot help myself!
 
   Think of me! I know you shall keep [your promise];
Thus we shall never be separated!
Sometime the flame shall be united, which now [divided]1
Burns in two kindred hearts!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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View original text (without footnotes)
Translator's note: "Gedenke mein" can be translated as either "think of me" or "remember me". The poet could have meant either or both.
1 Lang: "vainly" in the original 1848 publication, corrected to "divided " in the 2008 edition


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 24
Word count: 193

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. An den See
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "An den See", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 4 (1841), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Um dies Schifflein schmiege,
Holder See, dich sacht!
Frommer Liebe Wiege,
Nimm sie wohl in Acht!

  Deine Wellen rauschen;
Rede nicht so laut!
Laß mich ihr nur lauschen,
Die mir viel vertraut!

  Deine Wellen rauschen,
Spiegeln uns zurück
Tausendfach die feuchten
Augen voller Glück.

  Deine Wellen zittern
Vor der Sonne Glut;
Ob sie heimlich wittern,
Wie die Liebe tut?

  Weit und weiter immer
Rück den Strand hinaus!
Aus dem Himmel nimmer
Laß uns steigen aus!

  Fern von Menschenreden
Und von Menschensinn,
Als ein schwimmend Eden
Trag dies Schifflein hin!

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First published in the periodical Morgenblatt, November 9, 1840 (No. 268).

Note to Lang's setting: Lang was working a text that Köstlin had copied out for her (Christian Reinhold Köstlin’s poetry manuscripts, Cod.hist. 4º 437, Fasz. 10a Nr. 1, poem [23], Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart, Germany); in that copy the poem began with "Um." With the exception of "rauschen" in stanza 3 (which was Lang's error) all the other differences are also from that poetry manuscript.

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
4. Nestle up to this little boat
Language: English 
Nestle up to this little boat,
lovely lake, gently!
Cradle of holy love,
Take good care of it!

Your waves are roaring;
do not speak so loudly!
Just let me listen to her,
who is confiding so much to me!

Your waves sparkle,
reflecting back at us
a thousand moist
eyes full of happiness! 

Your waves tremble
from the heat of the sun,
could it be they secretly sense 
how love works?

Farther and farther,
draw us away from the shore!
From this heaven
never let me descend!

Far from human speech
and human thoughts,
like a floating Eden,
carry this little boat away!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 104

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Vögelein
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Vögelein", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 5 (1842), published 1848, lines 1-6,8-12 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Vögelein
Fliegt über'n Rhein
Und wiegt die Flügel
Im Sonnenschein,
Sieht Rebenhügel
Und grüne Flut
 ... 
Wie wohl das tut,
So hoch erhoben
Im Morgenhauch!
Beim Vögelein droben,
O wär' ich auch!

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Note: in Lang's song, line 3 word 2 ("wiegt") becomes "wieget" in the repetition.

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
5. In the boat
Language: English 
A tiny bird
Flies over the Rhein
And flaps its wings
in the bright sunshine.
It sees hills with vines
And a green river
[ ... ]
How good it is,
To be raised so high
Up in the morning air!
Up above with that little bird,
O, would I were there 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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Auf dem See in tausend Sterne
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Auf dem See in tausend Sterne", op. 14 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 6 (1841), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Auf dem See in tausend Sterne
Hat die Sonne sich zersplittert,
Daß er blitzend nah und ferne
Wie ein Meer von Feuer zittert.
 
   So in meines Lebens Wellen
Sank dein liebes Bild hernieder,
Und aus tausend Wonnequellen
Springen immer neue Lieder.
 
   Willst du in dies Meer von Schimmer,
Holde Schifferin, dich wagen?
Komm, o komm! und laß es immer
Glüh'nd um dich zusammen schlagen!

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First published in the periodical Morgenblatt, November 10, 1840 (No. 269).

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
6. On the lake into a thousand stars
Language: English 
   On the lake the sun has fragmented itself
Into a thousand stars,
Such that, far and wide, the lake
Quivers like a sea of fire.
 
   Thus into the waves of my life
Your [lovely]1 image sank down,
And from a thousand wellsprings of joy
New songs constantly burst forth.
 
   Fair sailor-maiden, do you dare
To enter into this shimmering sea?
Come, oh come!  And let it always
Glowingly crash about you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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: 

Based on:

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View original text (without footnotes)
Translation of title "Auf dem See in tausend Sterne" = "On the lake into a thousand stars"
1 Lang: "dear"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs