English translations of Lieder aus den Rheinlanden , opus 16

by Ferdinand Möhring (1816 - 1887)

1. Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Möhring (1816 - 1887), "Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter", op. 16 (Lieder aus den Rheinlanden ), Heft 2 no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter
in den spiegelhellen Rhein,
und mein Schiffchen segelt munter,
rings umglänzt von Sonnenschein.

Ruhig seh' ich zu dem Spiele
goldner Wellen, kraus bewegt;
still erwachen die Gefühle,
die ich tief im Busen hegt'.

Freundlich grüssend und verheißend
lockt hinab des Stromes Pracht;
doch ich kenn' ihn, oben gleißend,
birgt sein Innres Tod und Nacht.

Oben Lust, im Busen Tücken,
Strom, du bist der Liebsten Bild!
Die kann auch so freundlich nicken,
lächelt auch so fromm und mild.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Mountains and castles gaze down
Language: English 
 Mountains and castles gaze down
 into the mirror-bright Rhine,
 and my little boat sails merrilly,
 the sunshine glistening around it.
 
 Calmly I watch the play
 of golden, ruffled waves surging;
 silently feelings awaken in me
 that I have kept deep in my heart.
 
 With friendly greetings and promises,
 the river's splendor beckons;
 but I know it - gleaming above
 it conceals within itself Death and Night.
 
 Above, pleasure; at heart, malice;
 O river, you are the very image of my beloved!
 She can nod with just as much friendliness,
 also smiling so devotedly and gently.

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: 16
Word count: 95

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Möhring (1816 - 1887), "Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome", op. 16 (Lieder aus den Rheinlanden ), Heft 2 no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Im]1 Rhein, [im]1 [schönen]2 Strome,
Da spiegelt sich in den [Well'n]3
Mit seinem großen Dome
Das [große, heil'ge]4 Köln.

Im Dom da steht ein Bildnis,
Auf [goldnem Leder]5 gemalt;
In meines Lebens Wildnis
Hat's freundlich [hineingestrahlt]6.

Es schweben Blumen und [Eng'lein]7
Um unsre liebe Frau;
Die Augen, die Lippen, die Wänglein,
Die gleichen der Liebsten genau.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 120.

Note: in the first version of the poem, Heine has "heiligen" in stanza 1, line 1, word 4.

1 Hollmann, Urspruch: "Am" / "am"; further changes may exist for Hollmann's setting, not shown above.
2 Schumann, Franz: "heiligen"
3 Liszt: "Wellen"
4 Liszt, Urspruch: "große, das heilige"
5 Franz: "goldenem Grunde"; Urspruch: "goldenes Leder"
6 Urspruch: "herein gestrahlt"
7 Ender: "Eng'lein"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. In the Rhine, in the fair stream
Language: English 
In the Rhine, in the holy stream
Is it mirrored in the waves -
With its great cathedral -
That great, holy city Cologne.

In the Cathedral stands an image
Painted on golden leather;
Into the wildness of my life
Has it shone, friendly.

Flowers and little cherubs hover
Around our beloved Lady;
The eyes, the lips, the cheeks--
They match my beloved's exactly.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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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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: 62

Translation © by Paul Hindemith