English translations of 3 Lieder, opus 8

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Schmetterling
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Schmetterling", op. 8 (3 Lieder) no. 1, published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Tobias Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Sanft wie Zephirs lindes Wehen,
Schmeichelnd wie der Liebe Flehen,
Flatterst du mit leichtem Sinn
Durch die Blumenwelt dahin.

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Mit des Schmeichelns süßem Kosen
Gaukelst du um junge Rosen,
Wendest dann mit Männersinn,
Dich zu andern Blumen hin.

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Ist dein ganzes Leben Scherz?
Fesselt nichts dein kleines Herz? --
O so nenne nicht die Triebe
Deiner Flatterseele: "Liebe."

Frühlingsbothe! Schmetterling!
Bunter Wechsel scheint dein Ziel,
Aber grausam ist das Spiel.
Ach, ein Schmetterling, wie du,
Nahm mir tändelnd meine Ruh.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( E.S. ) , "Fanny an einen Schmetterling"

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Butterfly
Language: English 
[Harbinger of spring, butterfly!]1
Soft as the gentle breath of Zephyr,
Flattering as the pleading of love,
You flutter with a light heart
Through the world of flowers.

[Harbinger of spring, butterfly!]1
With the sweet caress of flattery
You flit about the young roses,
Then you turn, in the manner of a man,
Toward other [little flowers.]2

[Harbinger of spring, butterfly!]1
If your whole life is a jest?
If nothing can bind your little heart? --
Oh, then do not call the urges
Of your fluttering soul: "love."

[Harbinger of spring, butterfly!]1
Colorful change seems to be your aim in life[,]
But this game is cruel.
Alas, a butterfly like you
Carelessly deprived me of all my peace!

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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Translation of titles:
"Fanny an einen Schmetterling" = "Fanny addressing a butterfly"
"Schmetterling" = "Butterfly"
1 Lang: "Harbinger of spring! Butterfly!"
2 Lang: "flowers!"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 122

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
2. In die Ferne
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "In die Ferne", op. 8 (3 Lieder) no. 2 (1837), published 1838, stanzas 1-2,4 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Tobias Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Siehst du am Abend die Wolken ziehn?
Siehst du die Spitzen der Berge glühn?
Mit ewigem Schnee die Gipfel umglänzt,
Mit grünenden Wäldern die Täler umkränzt.
    Ach, in die Ferne 
    Sehnt sich mein Herz!

Ach, in den Wäldern, so ewig grün,
Kann still und heimlich die Liebe glühn!
Der Morgen sieht sie, der Abendschein,
Und die Lieb' ist mit Liebe so selig allein.
    Ach, in die Ferne 
    Sehnt sich mein Herz!

 ... 

O könnt' ich ziehen im Morgenroth!
O hauchte Abend mir Liebestod!
Es schwindet das Leben, du weißt es kaum --
O ewige Liebe, O ewiger Traum!
    Ach, in die Ferne 
    Sehnt sich mein Herz!

Text Authorship:

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by (Gustav) Hermann Kletke (1813 - 1886)
2. Into the distance
Language: English 
Do you see the clouds scudding at evening,
Do you see the tops of the mountains glowing,
The peaks shining with eternal snow,
The valleys bounded by green forests[?]
    Oh! My heart longs 
    For faraway places!

Oh! In the eternally green forests
Love may glow silently and secretly.
Morning sees it and the evening glow [sees it],
And the lover is rapturously alone with the beloved.
    Oh! My heart longs 
    For faraway places!

[ ... ]

Oh, could I but pass away in the morning light,
Oh, if evening could bring me love's death[!]
Life is passing away, you barely notice it,
Oh eternal love, oh eternal dream!
    Oh! My heart longs 
    For faraway places!

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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Translation of titles:
"In der Ferne" = "In the distance"
"In die Ferne" = "Into the distance"
"Siehst du am Abend die Wolken ziehn" = "Do you see the clouds scudding at evening"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 151

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
3. Ewige Nähe
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Ewige Nähe", op. 8 (3 Lieder) no. 3 (1838), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Tobias Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Heller ward mein inn'res Leben,
Schöner, seit ich dich erkannt,
Seit ein gleiches hohes Streben
Herz mit Herz so eng verband.
Meine Lieder, wie mein Fühlen,
Alles hab' ich dir geweiht.
Nichts konnt' meine Liebe kühlen,
Keine Trennung und kein Leid!
Und doch soll ich dir entsagen,
Dir, mein heller Lebensstern,
Soll die tiefe Nacht ertragen,
Dass du mir auf ewig fern!
Nein, ach nein, so darf's nicht werden,
Nein, ach nein, es darf kein Abschied sein.
Ob getrennt, ob nah auf Erden,
Hier im Herzen bleibst du mein!

Text Authorship:

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Note to line 14: There is a typo in the published Lang score ("noch" instead of "nah"). This error is not found in her manuscript copy of the song. It has been corrected in more recent publications and above. However, since all the other composers who have set this text got it from Lang's score, the error persists in their settings.

On the Baroni-Cavalcabo score the poet is given as "N. B . . . n. Marie König's song has no poet. Both Lang and Voss give the poet as "A.v.C."

by Agnes von Calatin (1813 - 1844)
3. Eternal nearness
Language: English 
My inner life became more radiant,
More beautiful since I met you,
Since the same exalted striving
So closely united our hearts.
My songs [poems], like my feelings,
Everything I have dedicated to you.
Nothing was able to lessen my love,
No separation and no sorrow.
And yet I am to renounce you,
You, my [radiant]1 star of life;
I am to endure the dark night
Of eternal separation from you!
No, oh no, this must not happen!
No, oh no, there must be no farewell!
Whether we are separated [or close together]2 on earth,
Here in my heart you shall remain mine!

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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View original text (without footnotes)
Translated titles:
"Ewige Nähe" = "Eternal nearness"
"Heller ward mein inn'res Leben" = "My inner life became more radiant"
"Treue Liebe" = "Faithful love"
1 König: "beautiful"
2 Baroni-Cavalcabo, König, Voss: "yet"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs