English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 46

by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904)

Return to the original list

1. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Frühlingslied", op. 46 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1, published 1875 [ duet for 2 voices with piano ], Breslau, Hainauer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tief im grünen [Frühlingshag]1
Durch die alten Rüstern
Wandelt leis' am [schönsten Tag]2
Wundersames Flüstern.

Jedes [Läublein]3 spricht: Gott grüß'!
Zu dem Laub daneben,
Alles athmet [tief und süß]4
Heil'ges [Friedensleben]5.

Und wie Blüt' und Blatt am Strauch
Still sich [wiegt im]6 Glanze,
Wiegt sich meine [Seel']7 im Hauch,
Der durchströmt das Ganze.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Zweite Periode, Einundzwansigte Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1873, page 61.

1 Thuille: "Frühlingshage"
2 Hoven: "schönen Tag"; Thuille: "schönsten Tage"
3 Hoven: "Läubchen"
4 Hoven: "süß und tief"
5 Hoven: "Friedens Beben "
6 Hoven: "wieget an dem"; Stegmayer: "wiegt am"
7 Bruch: "Seele"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1.
Language: English 
Deep within the green springtime grove
Through the old elms
On the [most beautiful of days]1 there passes
A wondrous whispering.

Every little bit of foliage says: “God greet you!”
To the foliage beside it,
Everything inhales [deeply and sweetly]2
A holy [life]3 of peace.

And just as blossoms and leaves upon the shrubs
Quietly sway [in]4 the brilliance,
My soul moves in the breath
That floods throughout the whole scene.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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:

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translations of titles:
"Frühlingsflüstern" = "Whispering of spring"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Tief im grünen Frühlingshag" = "Deep within the green springtime grove"

1 Hoven: "beautiful day"
2 Hoven: "sweetly and deeply"
3 Hoven: "trembling"
4 Hoven, Stegmayer: "upon"


This text was added to the website: 2015-02-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Im April  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Im April", op. 46 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du feuchter Frühlingsabend,
Wie hab' ich dich so gern --
Der [Himmel]1 wolkenverhangen,
Nur hier und da ein Stern.

[Wie]2 leiser Liebesodem
Hauchet [so lau]3 die Luft,
Es steigt aus allen [Thalen]4
Ein warmer Veilchenduft.

Ich möcht' ein Lied ersinnen,
Das diesem Abend [gleich]5;
Und kann den Klang nicht finden
So dunkel, mild und weich.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Neununddreißigste Auflage, Berlin, Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1855, page 26.

1 Jensen, Reger, Végh: "Himmel ist"
2 Berg: "Ein"
3 omitted by Végh
4 Viardot-García: "Tälern"
5 Végh: "gleicht"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. You damp spring evening
Language: English 
 You damp spring evening,
 how much I enjoy you!
 The sky is hung with clouds,
 only here and there a star.
 
 A gentle breath of love
 blows as mild as the breeze,
 and from every valley rises
 a warm spring scent.
 
 I would like to devise a song
 equal to this evening,
 but I cannot find a chord
 as dark, mild and gentle.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Si vous n'avez rien, à me dire  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Si vous n'avez rien, à me dire", op. 46 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3, published 1875 [ duet for 2 voices with piano ], Breslau, Hainauer
Language: French (Français) 
Si vous n'avez rien à me dire,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi ?
Pourquoi me faire ce sourire
Qui tournerait la tête au roi ?
Si vous n'avez rien à me dire,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi ?

Si vous n'avez rien à m'apprendre,
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main ?
Sur le rêve angélique et tendre,
Auquel vous songez en chemin,
Si vous n'avez rien à m'apprendre,
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main ?

Si vous voulez que je m'en aille,
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici ?
Lorsque je vous vois, je tressaille :
C'est ma joie et c'est mon souci.
Si vous voulez que je m'en aille,
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici ?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Victor Hugo, Les Contemplations, Nelson, 1911 (p. 87).


by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
3.
Language: English 
If you have nothing to tell me,
Why do you come so close to me?
Why do you make this smile
That could turn a monarch's head?
If you have nothing to tell me,
Why do you come so close to me?

If you have nothing to teach me,
Why do you squeeze my hand?
Regarding this angelic and tender dream
You had on the train,
If you have nothing to teach me,
Why do you squeeze my hand?

If you wish me to go away,
Why do you pass by here?
When I see you, I quiver:
It is my joy and it is my worry.
If you wish me to go away,
Why do you pass by here?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-12-20
Line count: 18
Word count: 120

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Die Waldbrüter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Die Waldbrüter", op. 46 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4, published 1875 [ voice, viola, and piano ], Breslau, Hainauer; note: the sung text begins with stanza 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun geht der Mond durch Wolkennacht,
Nun ist der Tag herum;
Da schweigen alle Vögel bald
Im Walde um und um.

Die Drossel pfeift ihr letztes Stück,
Ein Stück zu allerbest;
Die Amsel schlägt den letzten Ton
Und fliegt zu Nest, zu Nest.

Da nehm auch ich zu guter Nacht
Zur Hand die Geige mein;
Das ist ein klingend Nachtgebet
Und steigt zum Himmel ein.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: this is different only from the other one in line 2:1.

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
4. Those who hatch eggs in the forest
Language: English 
Now the moon travels through the night of clouds,
Now the day is over;
Thereupon all the birds soon fall silent
In the forest round about.

The thrush whistles its last piece,
A song to the best of its ability;
The merle throbs out the last sound
And flies to its nest, its nest.

Then I too for a good night
Take my violin to hand;
That is a ringing evening prayer
And rises up to enter Heaven.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 78

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Der Frühling und die Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Der Frühling und die Liebe", op. 46 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5, published 1875 [ duet for 2 voices with piano ], Breslau, Hainauer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Rosenbusch die Liebe schlief,
Der Frühling kam, der Frühling rief;
Die Liebe hört's, die Lieb' erwacht,
Schaut aus der Knosp' hervor und lacht,
Und denkt, zu zeitig möcht's [halt]1 sein
Und schläft [drum]2 ruhig wieder ein.

Der Frühling aber läßt nicht nach,
Er küßt sie jeden Morgen wach,
Er kos't mit ihr von früh bis spat,
Bis sie ihr Herz geöffnet hat
Und seine [heiße]3 Sehnsucht stillt,
Und jeden Sonnenblick vergilt.4

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Hoffmann's von Fallersleben Gesammelte Werke; Zweiter Band : Lyrische Gedichte : Liebesleben Fortsetzung, Kinderleben, Berlin, F. Fontane, 1891, p. 54.

1 Franz: "wohl"
2 Franz: "dann"
3 Norman: "leise"
4 Norman adds 
Er lässt nicht nach, er küsst sie wach,
er kost mit ihr bis sie ihr Herz,
ihr Herz geöffnet hat.

by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
5.
[Translation not yet available]