English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 7

by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847)

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1. Nachtwanderer
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Nachtwanderer", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wandre durch die stille Nacht,
Da schleicht der Mond so heimlich sacht
Oft aus der dunkeln Wolkenhülle,
Und hin und her im Tal,
Erwacht die Nachtigall
Dann wieder alles grau und stille.

O wunderbarer Nachtgesang,
Von fern im Land der Ströme Gang,
Leis Schauern in den dunkeln Bäumen --
Irrst die Gedanken mir,
Mein wirres Singen hier,
Ist wie ein Rufen nur aus Träumen.

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First published in the appendices to the novellas Taugenichts and Marmorbild, 1826 in the cycle Nachtbilder (no. 1)
by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Erwin
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Erwin", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Erwin
 Ihr verblühet, süße Rosen,
 Meine Liebe trug euch nicht;
 Blühet, ach! dem Hoffnungslosen,
 Dem der Gram die Seele bricht!

  Der auf erste Knöspchen lauernd
 früh zu seinem Garten ging,
 ach der Tage denk ich trauernd,
 als ich Engel an dir hing.

 Alle Blüten, alle Früchte
 Noch zu deinen Füßen trug
 Und vor deinem Angesichte
 Hoffnung mir im Herzen schlug.

 Ihr verblühet, süße Rosen,
 Meine Liebe trug euch nicht;
 Blühtet, ach! dem Hoffnungslosen,
 Dem der Gram die Seele bricht.

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Note: in Perfall's score, there are two typos: stanza 2, line 4, word 5 is "hin" instead of "ging"; and stanza 3, line 4, word 5 is "trug" instead of "schlug".

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2.
Language: English 
Erwin
 You are wilting, sweet roses -
 my love could not sustain you.
 Bloom for hopelessness then,
 for he whose soul is breaking from sorrow! 

 I think mournfully of those days
 when I hung on you, angel,
 waiting for your first little bud
 and going to my garden early;

 Every blossom, every fruit
 I carried to your feet;
 and before your countenance,
 hope throbbed in my heart.

 You are wilting, sweet roses -
 my love could not sustain you.
 Bloom for hopelessness then,
 for he whose soul is breaking from sorrow!

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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Translation of title "Zur Rosenzeit" = "To the time of roses"
Translation of Fanny Mendelssohn's closing stanza: 
Bloom for him who waits for your first bud,
going to his garden early;
alas, I think mournfully of those days
when I hung on you, my angel.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 89

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Frühling
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Frühling", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über'm Garten durch die Lüfte
Hör' ich Wandervögel ziehn,
Das bedeutet Frühlingsdüfte,
Alles fängt schon an zu blühn.

Jauchzen möcht' ich, möchte weinen,
Lenz und Liebe muß das sein!
Alle Wunder wieder scheinen
Mit dem Mondesglanz herein.

Und der Mond, die Sterne sagen, 
Und in Träume rauscht der Hain, 
Und die Nachtigallen schlagen: 
Sie ist dein, ja sie ist dein!

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3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Du bist die Ruh
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Du bist die Ruh", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist die Ruh,
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du,
Und was sie stillt.

Ich weihe dir
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung hier
Mein Aug' und Herz.

Kehr' ein bei mir,
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die Pforten zu.

Treib andern Schmerz
Aus dieser Brust.
Voll sey dies Herz
Von deiner Lust.

Dies Augenzelt
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll' es ganz.

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Note: The poem was first published 1822 in Rückert's Oestliche Rosen where all the poems have no titles. In subsequent editions (Erlangen, 1837: Gesammelte Gedichte, Frankfurt a. M., 1868: Gesammelte Poetische Werke) this poem got the title Kehr' ein bei mir!

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
4. You are peace, the mild peace
Language: English 
You are peace,
The mild peace,
You are longing
And what stills it.

I consecrate to you
Full of pleasure and pain
As a dwelling here
My eyes and heart.

Come live with  me,
And close
quietly behind you
the gates.

Drive other pain
Out of this breast
May my heart be full
With your pleasure.

The tabernacle of my eyes
by your radiance
alone is illumined,
O fill it completely!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (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: 2003-10-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 71

Translation © by Lynn Thompson
5. Bitte
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Bitte", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weil' auf mir, du dunkles Auge,
Übe deine ganze Macht,
Ernste, milde, träumerische,
Unergründlich süße Nacht!

Nimm mit deinem Zauberdunkel
Diese Welt von hinnen mir,
Daß du über meinem Leben
Einsam schwebest für und für.

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
5. Linger on me, dark eyes
Language: English 
Linger on me, dark eyes -
exert your entire power,
somber, mild, dream-like,
unfathomably sweet night.

With your magic darkness
take from me this world,
so that above my life
you alone will float forever and ever.

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: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Dein ist mein Herz
 (Sung text)
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Dein ist mein Herz", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein ist mein Herz, mein Schmerz dein eigen,
Und alle Freuden, die es sprengen,
Dein ist der Wald mit allen Zweigen,
Den Blüten allen und Gesängen.

Das Liebste, was ich mag erbeuten
Mit Liedern, die mein Herz entführten,
Ist mir ein Wort, daß sie dich freuten,
Ein stummer Blick, daß sie dich rührten.

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Note: from stanzas 7-8.

6. Yours is my heart
Language: English 
Yours is my heart, my pain is your own
and all the joy that blasts it;
yours is the forest, with all the branches,
all the blossoms, and the songs.

The best prize that I may hope to carry off,
with songs that captured my heart,
is one word to me that they delighted you,
one mute glance, that they moved you.

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:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 62

Translation © by Emily Ezust