English translations of Drei Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 18

by Eduard Gustav Sabbath (b. 1826)

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1. Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Gustav Sabbath (b. 1826), "Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1878 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vertraue dich dem Licht der [Sterne]1,
  Beschleicht dein Herz ein bittres Weh,
Sie sind dir nah' in [weiter]2 Ferne,
  Wenn Menschen fern in nächster Näh';
Und hast du Thränen noch, so weine,
  O, weine satt dich ungesehn,
Doch vor dem [Aug']3 der Menschen scheine,
  Als wär' dir nie ein Leid geschehn!

Verdammt die Welt dich in Verblendung,
  So such' auf stillem Waldespfad
Dir neuen Muth für deine Sendung,
  Für starke Treu' und freie That;
Um vor dir selber zu bestehen,
  Trägst du den Sieger in der Brust,
Doch nicht die Menschen laß es sehen,
  Wie schweren Kampf du kämpfen mußt.

Ist dir ein schönes Werk gelungen,
  So sei's zu [neuem]4 dir ein Ruf,
Hast du ein treues Herz errungen,
  So [denke,]5 daß es Gott dir schuf;
Wenn deine süß entzückte Seele
  Ganz voll von heil'ger Freude ist,
O, nicht den Neid der Menschen wähle
  Zum Zeugen, daß du glücklich bist!

Verachte kühn der Selbstsucht Streben,
  Wie oft sie dir Verfolgung schwur;
Vor keinem Throne steh' mit Beben,
  Furcht hegt ein bös Gewissen nur.
Demüthig wirf in nächt'ger Stille
  Vor deinem Gott dich auf die Knie'
Und bete: "Es gescheh' dein Wille!"
  Doch vor den Menscheu beug' dich nie.

Und wenn dir Gottes Rathschluß sendet
  Der schwersten Prüfung höchste Pein,
Dann hast du's, [ganz ihm]6 zugewendet,
  Mit ihm zu thun und dir allein;
Davon laß nie die Lippen sprechen,
  Ob dir das Herz auch brechen will!
Laß es in tausend Stücke brechen,
  Doch vor den Menschen schweige still!

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Confirmed with Schau um dich und Schau in dich. Dichtungen von Julius Hammer, Zweite Auflage, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1853, page 94-95.

1 van der Weg: "Stern' "
2 Lang: "später" (but only in the published version; both 1870 manuscripts have "weiter")
3 van der Weg: "Auge"
4 Lang: "neuen" (but only in the published version; both 1870 manuscripts have "neuem")
5 Lang: "danke" (amibiguous in 1861 and the two 1870 manuscripts)
6 Lang: "ihm ganz" (but only in the 1870 version)

by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862)
1. Remain silent!
Language: English 
Entrust yourself to the light of the stars
  If your heart is overcome by a bitter pain!
They are close to you in the far distance,
  When people right beside you are [actually] far away.
And if you still have tears,
  Cry yourself out unseen!
But before the eyes of your fellow man,
  Be as if no pain had ever touched you!

If, in blindness, the world damns you,
  Then seek on quiet forest paths
New courage for your mission,
  For strong faithfulness and free deeds;
In your breast you carry the victorious one
  Who enables you to remain true in your own eyes,
But never let mankind see
  How hard the battle that you must fight.

If you have succeeded at a fine undertaking,
  Let it inspire you to [a new work]1!
If you have gained a faithful beloved,
  [Recall that God created her/him for you]2.
If your sweetly enraptured soul
  Is completely full of holy joy,
Oh do not choose the jealousy of your fellow man
  As a witness of your happiness!

Boldly disdain the striving of selfishness,
  No matter how often it swore to beset you;
Stand before no throne with trembling,
  Fear is harboured only by a bad conscience.
Humbly in the quiet of night throw yourself
  On your knees before your God
And pray:  "May Thy will be done!"
  But never bow down before men.

And if God's will sends you
  The highest pain of the hardest trial,
Then you must turn completely to Him,
  And let it be between Him and you alone!
Do not ever let your lips speak of it,
  Even if your heart wants to break!
Let it break into a thousand pieces,
  But be silent before mankind!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Blick' nach oben" = "Look upward"
"Lied " = "Song"
"Schweige still!" = "Remain silent!"
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Stern' " = " Entrust yourself to the light of the stars "
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne" = "Entrust yourself to the light of the stars"
"Vor den Menschen schweige still!" = "Be silent before mankind!"

1 Lang: "new works"
2 Lang: "Thank God, who created her/him for you."


This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 290

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Über Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Gustav Sabbath (b. 1826), "Über Nacht", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1878 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: C.A. Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich glaubte, die Schwalbe träumte schon
Vom theuren Nest;
Ich glaubte, die Lerche dachte schon
Ans Liederfest;
Ich glaubte, die Blüten küßte schon
Ein junger West;
Ich glaubte, ich hielte Dich liebend schon
Auf ewig fest!
 
Wie wurdet ihr winterlich über Nacht,
Ihr Lüfte lind!
Wie Knospen und Blüthen über Nacht
Erfroren sind!
Wie die Lerche verlernte über Nacht
Ihr Lied geschwind!
Und wie Du vergessen hast über Nacht
Dein armes Kind!

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Confirmed with Karl Beck, Stille Lieder, Leipzig: Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, 1840, page 23.

Note: according to Lawrence Snyder in German Poetry in Song, Fallen Leaf Press, 1995, Holstein attributes this text to Hugo Staacke. Unless "Hugo Staacke" is found to be a pseudonym of Karl Beck, this is a confirmed misattribution.


by Karl Isidor Beck (1817 - 1879) and sometimes misattributed to Christian Nikolaus Hugo Staacke
2. Overnight
Language: English 
I believed that the swallow already dreamt
Of the dear nest;
I believed that the lark already thought of
The festival of song;
I believed that blossoms were already being kissed
By a young westwind;
I believed that lovingly I already held you 
Tightly for ever!

How you became wintry overnight,
You gentle breezes!
How overnight blossoms and buds
Were destroyed by frost!
How overnight the lark quickly
Unlearned its song!
And how overnight you forgot
Your poor sweetheart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Die Entsagende" = "The renouncing woman"
"Ich glaubte, die Schwalben" = "I believed that the swallows"
"Ich glaubte, die Schwalbe träumte" = "I believed that the swallow dreamt"
"Ich glaubte, die Schwalbe träumte schon" = "I believed that the swallow already dreamt"
"Täuschung" = "Delusion"
"Über Nacht" = "Overnight"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 79

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Wald wird dichter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Gustav Sabbath (b. 1826), "Der Wald wird dichter", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1878 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Wald wird dichter mit jedem Schritt;
Kein Pfad mehr, kein Steig;
Nur die Quelle rieselt mit
Durch Farrenkraut und Brombeergezweig;
Ach, und unter den Eichenbäumen
Das Gras wie hoch, wie weich das Moos!

Und die himmlische Tiefe wolkenlos,
Wie blaut sie durch die Wipfel hier!

Hier will ich rasten und träumen,
Träumen von dir.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Neue Gedichte, Zweiter unveränderter Abdruck, Stuttgart und Augsburg: J.G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1857, page 321.


by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. The forest becomes denser
Language: English 
The forest becomes denser with every step;
No pathway anymore, no steep road;
Only the water-spring murmurs along
Through ferns and bramble branches;
Ah, and under the oaks
How tall the grass, how soft the moss!

And cloudless heavenly deep,
How blue through the treetops here!

Here I wish to rest and dream,
Dream of you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Der Wald wird dichter" = "The forest becomes denser"
"Der Wald wird dichter mit jedem Schritt" = "The forest becomes denser with every step"
"Im Walde" = "In the forest"
"Waldeinsam" = "Forest-loneliness"
"Waldeinsamkeit" = "Solitude of the forest"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-15
Line count: 10
Word count: 56

Translation © by Sharon Krebs