English translations of Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder, opus 2

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Lied zur Geburtstagsfeier der viel geliebten königlichen Mutter Karoline
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied zur Geburtstagsfeier der viel geliebten königlichen Mutter Karoline", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 1, published 1834 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nimm hin, was heißer Dank dir weihet,
Es kommt aus tiefgerührter Brust,
Die deine Gnade hoch erfreuet.
O selig war mir deine Nähe.
Ich war mir kaum bewußt
Vor deiner Güte hohem Bild.

Wie glücklich, wer in deiner Nähe
Sich sonnt im Strahl der Majestät,
Ein Zeuge wie von deiner Höhe
Du Wohltun, Segen rings verbreitest.
Kein Armer trostlos von dir geht.
Du stets ein Schutzgott von ihm scheidest.

O hohe Mutter aller Künste,
Der Wissenschaft Beschirmerin,
Du gibst Veredlung dem Verdienste.
Ich kann nur dankbar stets dich preisen,
Zum Himmel fleh'n, o Königin,
Der uns in dir schon hier verheißen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Song for the Birthday Celebration of
the much loved Queen Mother Caroline
Language: English 
Accept what warm gratitude dedicates to you;
It comes from a deeply moved breast,
Which your grace has made deeply happy,
I was gladdened in your presence.
I was hardly aware of myself
Before the high image of your goodness.

How happy is he who in your presence
Suns himself in the beam of [your] majesty,
A witness how, from your height,
You spread the blessing of your good deeds,
No poor person leaves you without being comforted.
You part from him always as a protecting deity.

O high mother of all arts,
The protectress of knowledge,
You grant ennoblement to gain.
I can only gratefully praise you at all times,
I can implore heaven, o Queen,
[Heaven] which, in you, is promised us already here.

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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This text was added to the website: 2006-06-25
Line count: 18
Word count: 126

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Seligkeit
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Seligkeit", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 2, published 1834 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Freuden sonder Zahl
Blühn im Himmelssaal
Engel und Verklärten,
Wie die Väter lehrten.
O da möcht ich sein,
Und mich ewig freun!

Jedem lächelt traut
Eine Himmelsbraut;
Harf' und Psalter klinget,
Und man tanzt und singet.
O da möcht' ich sein,
Und mich ewig freun!

Lieber bleib' ich hier,
Lächelt Laura mir
Einen Blick, der saget,
Daß ich ausgeklaget.
Selig dann mit Ihr,
Bleib' ich ewig hier!

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This is the version of Hölty's poem heavily reworked by Voß. For the original version, with the title Minnelied, see below.

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776) and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
2. Bliss
Language: English 
 Joys without number
 bloom in heaven's hall
 of angels and transfigured beings,
 just as our fathers taught us.
 O, there I would like to be
 and rejoice forever!
 
 Upon everyone dearly smiles
 a heavenly bride;
 harp and psalter resound,
 and everyone dances and sings.
 O, there I would like to be
 and rejoice forever!
 
 But I'd rather remain here
 if Laura would smile at me
 with one glance that said
 I should end my lamenting.
 Blissfully then with her,
 I would stay here forever!

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: 85

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 3, published 1834 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In der Hand die Himmelsgabe
schwebt die Liebe sanft hernieder,
und ihr rosiges Gefieder
deckt das wunde Herz;
aber aus dem finstern Grabe
steigt sie himmelwärts.

Wonne, Sehnsucht und Entzücken
reichet sie mit sanften Händen,
auch den Kummer muß sie spenden,
Trennung, Qual und Schmerz;
ach! die Rose, die wir pflücken,
drückt den Dorn ins Herz.

Fühllos auf dem Göttersitze
knickt die Zeit die holde Rose,
und sie sinkt, die Blüthenlose,
welk und hingestreut --
doch des Dornes scharfe Spitze
schmerzt für Ewigkeit.

Schwebe hin, du Himmelsgabe,
nur für meine süßen Lieder
samml' ich deine Blüthen wieder,
nicht für dieses Herz;
nur im finstern öden Grabe
heilet Liebesschmerz.

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by Karl August Friedrich von Witzleben (1773 - 1839), as A. v. Tromlitz
3. Song
Language: English 
With the heavenly gift in its hand,
Love softly wafts down,
and its rosy plumage
covers the wounded heart;
but from the [quiet]1 grave
[Love] rises towards heaven.

Joy, longing, and rapture
it presents with gentle hands,
it must also mete out suffering,
separation, agony, and pain;
ah! the rose that we pick
presses a thorn into [our] heart.

On the throne of the gods
Time unfeelingly breaks the lovely rose,
and it sinks, the bloomless one,
wilted and scattered --
but the sharp point of the thorn
pains [us] for all eternity.

Float away, you heavenly gift,
only for my sweet songs
do I again collect your blossoms,
not for this heart [of mine];
only in the dark, desolate grave
shall love's pain heal.

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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Revised July 25, 2021
1 Lang: "dark"


This text was added to the website: 2006-06-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 125

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 4 (<<1834), published 1834, stanzas 1-2,4,6 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leichte Lüfte, linde, süße,
  Wehend sanft im Haine:
Bringt ihr von der Liebsten Grüße,
  Oder holt ihr meine?

Wollt ihr von der Holden sagen,
  Wie sie mein gedenke,
Wie sie nun in stillen Klagen
  Seufzend sich versenke?

 ... 

Fliegt mit euren leichten Schwingen
  Nur von Ort zu Orte!
Weiß ich doch, ihr müßt mir bringen
  Grüße, Klagen, Worte!

 ... 

Wozu glaubt ihr, daß ich Lieder
  Euch vertrau, und Klagen,
Als nun zur Geliebten wieder
  Schnell mich hinzutragen?

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by Ernst Friedrich Georg Otto, Freiherr von der Malsburg (1786 - 1824)
4. Song
Language: English 
Light breezes, gentle sweetness
  Blowing softly in the grove,
Do you bring greetings from my beloved,
  Or do you come to fetch mine?

Are you trying to tell me
  How the lovely one thinks of me,
[How she]1 immerses herself,
  [In soft laments because of me?]2

[ ... ]

Fly with your light wings
  From place to place;
I know that you must bring me
  Greetings, laments, words.

[ ... ]

For what reason do you think
  I entrust you with songs and laments,
Other than to carry [them]3
  Quickly back to my beloved?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by 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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Translations of titles
"Lied" = "Song"
"Luft" = "Air"

1 Lang: "now"
2 Lang: "Sighing, in soft laments?"
3 Lang: "me now"


This text was added to the website: 2006-06-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 136

Translation © by Harald Krebs
5. Lied
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 5 (<<1834), published 1834, stanzas 1-3,6 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An dem Ufer sitz ich da!
  Wellen, wie ihr eilet!
Ach, ihr kommt dem Ort so nah,
  Wo mein Liebchen weilet.

Dort sitzt sie in euch hinein,
  Wellen, nehmet Flügel,
Laßt nicht and're Wellen sein 
Meinem Liebchen Spiegel.

Rosen sucht das liebe Kind
  Sich zur Busenschleife,
Rose, Rose, komm geschwind,
  Daß sie dich ergreife.

 ... 

Sagt ihr, daß ich fern von ihr
  Nicht mehr weiß zu bleiben,
Und ein Schiff mich selbst von hier
  Bald zu ihr wird treiben.

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by Ernst Friedrich Georg Otto, Freiherr von der Malsburg (1786 - 1824)
5. Song
Language: English 
I sit there at the shore,
  Waves, how you hurry!
Ah, you will so closely approach the place
  Where my [maiden]1 lives.

There she [gazes into]2 you.
  Waves, take wing;
Do not let other waves
  Be a mirror for my beloved.

The dear child is searching for roses
  To use as a bow on her bosom.
Rose, oh rose, come quickly
  So that she may seize you.

[ ... ]

Tell her that I can no longer
  Linger far from her,
And that a ship shall soon
  Carry me toward her.

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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Translations of titles
"Wasser" = "Water"
"Lied" = "Song"

1 Lang: "beloved"
2 Lang: "sits in you" - Lang's early editions are riddled with errors.
3 Lang: "Laßt nicht and're Wellen sein / Meinem Liebchen"
4 Lang: "liebe"


This text was added to the website: 2006-06-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 138

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Die Abendglocke auf dem Berge
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Die Abendglocke auf dem Berge", op. 2 (Sechs teutsche [sic] Lieder) no. 6, published 1834 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: first published without an opus number; designated by Lang in 1867 as op. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Abend ist's, mit leisen Düften
Sinkt die Dämm'rung in das Thal,
In den stillen, dunklen Lüften
Tönet nur vom Felsenwall
Feierlich der Glocken Hall.

Wie von steilen Berges Höhen
Dort der Thurm herunter blickt!
Und mit dieser Töne Wehen
Alles eitle Sorgen sinkt,
Tiefe Ruh ins Herz mir dringt.

Süße Klänge, mildes Tönen,
In dir löset sich mein Herz,
Und dein unbezwinglich Sehnen
Zieht die Seele himmelwärts,
Über Erdenlust und Schmerz.

Text Authorship:

  • by Caroline Pichler (1769 - 1843), "Die Abendglocke auf dem Berge", subtitle: "Zu der Musik des Freiherrn von Krufft auf den Text: Glöckchen tönt von luft'gen Höhen u.s.w."

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Confirmed with: Anthologie aus den sämmtlichen Werken von Caroline Pichler, Zweites Bändchen, Hildburgshausen und New-York: Druck und Verlag vom Bibliographischen Institut, 1830, pages 140-141.

by Caroline Pichler (1769 - 1843)
6. The Evening Bell on the Mountain
Language: English 
It is evening, with soft scents
Twilight sinks into the valley,
In the quiet, dark breezes
Only the solemn sound of the bells
Echoes from the rocky embankment.

How the tower looks down
From the steep heights of the mountain,
And with the wafting of these sounds
All futile anxiety subsides,
[And] deep peace penetrates my heart.

Sweet ringing, mild tones,
In you my heart dissolves,
And your unconquerable longing
Pulls the soul heavenward,
Above the pleasure and pain of [this] earth.

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:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Caroline Pichler (1769 - 1843), "Die Abendglocke auf dem Berge", subtitle: "Zu der Musik des Freiherrn von Krufft auf den Text: Glöckchen tönt von luft'gen Höhen u.s.w."

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This text was added to the website: 2006-06-25
Line count: 15
Word count: 82

Translation © by Sharon Krebs