English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 54

by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985)

1. Herbstlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Herbstlied", op. 54 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, note: may be incorrect text for this title
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Herz, nun so alt und noch immer nicht klug,
Hoffst du von Tagen zu Tagen,
Was dir der [prangende]1 Frühling nicht trug
Werde der Herbst dir noch tragen?

Läßt doch der spielende Wind nicht vom Strauch
Immer zu schmeicheln, zu kosen,
Rosen entfaltet am Morgen sein Hauch,
Abends zerstreut er die Rosen.

Läßt doch der spielende Wind nicht vom Strauch,
bis er ihn völlig gelichtet.
Alles, o Herz, ist ein Wind und ein Hauch,
Was wir geliebt und gedichtet.

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1 Pfitzner: "blühende"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1. Breeze of Autumn
Language: English 
Heart, so old now and still not wise,
do you hope day by day that the fruit 
which shining spring didn't bear for you 
will be brought to you yet by autumn?

The rippling wind doesn't leave off the shrub -
always flattering, fondling,
roses enfold its breezes in the morning;
in the evening it scatters the roses.

The rippling wind doesn't leave off the shrub
untill he cleares it completely. 
All, my heart, is a wind and a breeze
that we have loved and rhymed.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 85

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
2. Liebst du um Schönheit
 (Sung text)
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Liebst du um Schönheit", op. 54 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1941
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Liebst du um Schönheit,
O nicht mich liebe! 
Liebe die Sonne,
Sie trägt ein gold'nes Haar!

Liebst du um Jugend,
O nicht mich liebe!
Liebe den Frühling,
Der jung ist jedes Jahr! 

Liebst du um Schätze,
O nicht mich liebe. 
Liebe die Meerfrau,
Die hat viel Perlen klar.

Liebst du um Liebe,
O ja, mich liebe!
Liebe mich immer, 
Dich lieb' ich immerdar.

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See also Louis-Alexandre Fortoul's Qu'aimes‑tu de moi ?, which seems to have been inspired by this poem.

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. If you love for beauty
Language: English 
If you love for beauty,
Oh do not love me!
Love the sun, 
It has gold hair!

If you love for youth,
Oh do not love me!
Love the spring-time
That is young each year!

If you love for wealth,
Oh do not love me!
Love the mermaid,
[Who]1 has many limpid pearls!

If you love for love,
Oh yes, love me!
Love me forever;
I will love you forevermore!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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1 Mahler, C. Schumann: "She"


This text was added to the website: 2014-12-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Um Mitternacht
 (Sung text)
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Um Mitternacht", op. 54 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1941
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Um Mitternacht
Hab' ich gewacht
Und aufgeblickt zum Himmel;
Kein Stern vom Sterngewimmel
Hat mir gelacht
Um Mitternacht.

Um Mitternacht
Hab' ich gedacht
Hinaus in dunkle Schranken.
Es hat kein Lichtgedanken
Mir Trost gebracht
Um Mitternacht.

Um Mitternacht
Nahm ich in Acht
Die Schläge meines Herzens;
Ein einz'ger Puls des Schmerzens
War angefacht
Um Mitternacht.

Um Mitternacht
Kämpft' ich die Schlacht,
O Menschheit, deiner Leiden;
Nicht konnt' ich sie entscheiden
Mit meiner Macht
Um Mitternacht.

Um Mitternacht
Hab' ich die Macht
In deine Hand gegeben!
Herr über Tod und Leben
Du hältst die Wacht
Um Mitternacht!

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. At midnight
Language: English 
 At midnight
 I awoke
 and gazed up to heaven;
 No star in the entire mass
 did smile down at me
 at midnight.

 At midnight
 I projected my thoughts
 out past the dark barriers.
 No thought of light
 brought me comfort
 at midnight.

 At midnight
 I paid close attention
 to the beating of my heart;
 One single pulse of agony
 flared up
 at midnight.

 At midnight
 I fought the battle,
 o Mankind, of your suffering;
 I could not decide it
 with my strength
 at midnight.

 At midnight
 I surrendered my strength
 into your hands!
 Lord! over death and life
 You keep watch
 at midnight!

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 104

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. O Sonn, o Meer, o Rose
 (Sung text)
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "O Sonn, o Meer, o Rose", op. 54 (Vier Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Sonn', o Meer, o Rose!
Wie wenn die Sonne triumphierend sich
Hebt über Sterne, die am Himmel stunden,
Ein Schimmer nach dem andern leis' erblich,
Bis alle sind in einen Glanz geschwunden;
So hab' ich, Liebste, dich
Gefunden:
Du kamst, da war, was je mein Herz empfunden,
Geschwunden
In dich.

O Sonn', o Meer, o Rose!
Wie wenn des Meeres Arme aufthun sich
Den Strömen, die nach ihnen sich gewunden,
Hinein sich diese stürzen brünstiglich,
Bis sie die Ruh im tiefen Schooß gefunden;
So, Liebste, hab' ich dich
Empfunden:
Sich hat mein Herz mit allen Sehnsuchtswunden
Entbunden
In dich.

O Sonn', o Meer, o Rose!
Wie wenn im Frühling tausendfältig sich
Ein buntes Grün hat ringend losgewunden,
Ein hadernd Volk, bis Rose, königlich
Eintretend, es zum Kranz um sich verbunden;
So, Liebste, hab' ich dich
Umwunden:
Der Kranz des Daseyns muss sich blühend runden,
Gebunden
In dich.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
4. O sun, o sea, o rose!
Language: English 
O sun, o sea, o rose!
Just as when the sun in triumph
rises over the stars that were in the sky,
and one glow after another quietly fades
until all have disappeared into a single radiance;
so have I, beloved,
found thee;
you came, and everything I had ever felt
disappeared
into thee.

O sun, o sea, o rose!
Just as when the sea's arms open up
to the rivers that have wound their way to them,
and the rivers plunge into them ardently
until they find rest in the deepest bed of the sea;
so have I, beloved,
felt thee;
my heart, with all its wounds of longing,
released itself
into thee.

O sun, o sea, o rose!
Just as when in the spring, in thousandfold,
a bright green has, struggling, won freedom,
a squabbling race, until the rose, royally
entering, has woven it into a wreath around herself;
so have I, beloved,
encircled thee;
the wreath of existence will be rounded out in blooms,
woven
into thee.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website: 2008-05-27
Line count: 30
Word count: 170

Translation © by John Glenn Paton