English translations of Vier deutsche Lieder, opus 4
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)
Schließ die Äuglein, holder Kleiner! Schlafe sicher mir im Arm! O dein Bettlein macht dir keiner Je so weich, so Liebewarm: Mutterliebe wiegt dich ein; Mutterküsse warten dein. Unter tausend, tausend Küssen Aufgewacht, ans Herz gedrückt. Möchtest du nur Einmal wissen, Wie dein Lächeln mich entzückt! Engel-Unschuld lacht mich an: Offen ist der Himmel dann! Wohl dem Herzen voller Treue, Daß sich alles darf gestehn! Kleiner Engel! ohne Reue Kann ich dir ins Auge sehn. Immer, immer lächle so! Nur die Unschuld macht uns froh!
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Lied einer Mutter"
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with J.G. Jacobi's sämmtliche Werke, Volume 4, third edition, Zürich: Orell, Füßli und Compagnie, 1819, pages 243-244.Close your dear eyes, lovely little one, Sleep securely in my arms! Oh, no one else shall make for you a little bed So soft, so warm with love. A mother's love rocks you to sleep, A mother's kisses await you. Woken with thousands and thousands of kisses, [And] pressed to my heart, If you could only know How your smiles delight me! [When] the innocence of an angel smiles at me, Then Heaven is opened before me! It is well for the heart filled with loyalty, That can allow itself anything! Little angel, I can look Into your eyes without regret! Always, always smile thus, Only innocence makes us happy!
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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Lied einer Mutter"
Go to the general single-text view
Translated titles:"Lied einer Mutter" = "Song of a mother"
"Schliess' die Äuglein, holde Kleine" = "Close your dear eyes, lovely little one"
"Schließ die Äuglein, holder Kleiner!" = "Close your dear eyes, lovely little one"
"Schlummerlied" = "Slumber song"
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 111
Sagt, wo sind die Veilchen hin?
Die so freudig glänzten,
Und der Blumen-Königinn sic
Ihren Weg bekränzten?
"Jüngling, ach! Der Lenz entflieht:
"Diese Veilchen sind verblüht!"
Sagt, wo sind die Rosen hin?
Die wir singend pflückten,
Als sich Hirt' und Schäferinn
Hut und Busen schmückten?
"Mädchen, ach! Der Sommer flieht:
"Diese Rosen sind verblüht!"
Führe denn zum Bächlein mich,
Das die Veilchen tränkte;
Das mit leisem Murmeln sich,
In die Thäler senkte.
"Luft und Sonne glühten sehr:
"Jenes Bächlein ist nicht mehr!"
...
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Nach einem alten Lied"
See other settings of this text.
Tell me, where have the violets gone
That shone so happily
And garlanded the pathway
Of the Queen of Flowers?
"Young man, ah! Spring is fleeting:
"These violets have faded!"
Ah tell me, where have the roses gone?
That we picked while singing,
When the shepherd and shepherdess
Were decorating hat and bosom [with roses]?
"Young maiden, ah! Summer is fleeting:
"[These]1 roses have faded!"
Lead me to the little brook
That watered the violets;
[The brook] that descended
Into the valleys with quiet murmuring.
"The winds and sun were very hot:
"That little brook no longer exists!"
[ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Nach einem alten Lied"
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of titles:
"Die Veilchen" = "The violets"
"Erinnerungen" = "Memories"
"Nach einem alten Lied" = "After an old song"
"Nach einem alten Liede" = "After an old song"
"Sag, wo sind die Veilchen hin" = "Tell me, where have the violets gone"
"Verblüht!" = "Faded"
"Vergänglichkeit" = "Ephemerality"
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-09
Line count: 36
Word count: 204
Aufgewacht, aufgewacht, Laß sie flieh'n, des Traumes Schwingen, Denn ein Lied will ich dir singen, Dir vertrauend und der Nacht, Aufgewacht! -- Hör mir zu, hör mir zu, Horchst ja sonst gern aller Orten Meiner Liebe Schmeichelworten, Denn ihr Gegenstand bist du. Hör' mir zu. -- ... Bist mir gut, bist mir gut: Willst auch du dein Herz verhüllen Les' ichs doch in deiner stillen Liebefeuchten Augenglut: Bist mir gut. -- ... Ich muß fort -- ich muß fort! Darf ich auch nicht weiter singen Wird im Herzen mir erklingen Lieb und Lied an jedem Ort -- Ich muß fort! -- Gute Nacht -- gute Nacht! Dunkel wird die Welt mir wieder Bis du, deine Augenlider Öffnend, mir den Tag gebracht -- Gute Nacht! --
Text Authorship:
- by Wilhelm, Freiherr von Marsano (1797 - 1871), "Ständchen"
See other settings of this text.
Note to stanza 7, line 3: The word "Augenlider" is incorrectly given as "Augenlieder" in the published poem. It has been corrected above.
Awaken, awaken, Let the wings of dreams depart, For I wish to sing you a song, To entrust it to you and the night, Awaken! -- Listen to me, listen to me, You usually listen to my flattering words of love So gladly everywhere, For you are the one of whom I speak. Listen to me. -- [ ... ] You're fond of me, you're fond of me: Even if you wished to hide your heart, I would still read it in the silent, Moist, loving glow of your eyes: You're fond of me. -- [ ... ] I must depart, I must depart! Even if I am not permitted to sing any longer, In my heart there will ring out Love and song wherever I go -- I must depart! -- Good night, good night! The world once more grows dark for me Until your eyelids with their opening Bring me daylight -- Good night! --
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm, Freiherr von Marsano (1797 - 1871), "Ständchen"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-09
Line count: 35
Word count: 210
Duften nicht die Laubengänge? Hör' ich nicht der Wipfel Säuseln, Leise Maienwinde kräuseln Den umbebüschten sic stillen Rain; Daß mich nicht der Mittag senge, Winken mir verstohlen Schatten, Rosenhayn und, Veilchenmatten, Aber ach, ich bin allein! Unterm blattgewebten Teppich Hör' ich Nachtigallen schlagen, Und die leichten Echo tragen Ihre Töne durch den Hain; Langs der Eiche dehnt sich Teppich, Wasser-Nymphe lockt die Quelle, Wo mit Welle lispelt Welle, Aber ach, ich bin allein.
Text Authorship:
- by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "1815", appears in Lieder und Romanzen
See other settings of this text.
Are not the pergolas fragrant, Do I not hear the [treetops soughing]1, [Soft]2 May winds rippling [The bush-lined waters of the quiet Rhine]3? That I may not be singed by the noonday sun, [Secret shadows beckon me]4, [Rose hedges,]5 carpets of violets, But ah, I am alone! Under the leafy, woven canopy I hear nightingales calling, And the [softer]6 echoes carry Their songs through the grove; Along the oak, ivy stretches itself out, Water-nymphs are tempted by the spring, Where wave whispers with wave, But ah, I am alone!
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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835), "1815", appears in Lieder und Romanzen
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"1815" = "1815"
"Sehnsucht" = "Sehnsucht"
1 Lang: "soughing of the treetops"
2 Lang: "Quiet"
3 In Lang's original publication: "Along the bushy, quiet bank"; in the 1866 and 1882 editions: "In the bushy, quiet bank"
4 Lang: "Shadows beckon me secretively"
5 Lang (1866 and 1882 editions): "Rose arbours and
6 Lang (1866 and 1882 editions): "soft"
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 97