English translations of Vier Duette, opus 34

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

1. Liebesgarten
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Liebesgarten", op. 34 (Vier Duette) no. 1 (1840), published 1841 [ vocal duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Klemm
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Die Liebe ist ein Rosenstrauch.
      Wo blüht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten,
Darin wir zwei, mein Lieb und ich,
Getreulich seiner warten,
wofür er uns aus Dankbarkeit
Alltäglich neue Blumen streut;
Und wenn im Himmel Rosen blühn,
Sie können doch nicht schöner blühn.

  Die Liebe ist ein klarer Bach.
      Wo zieht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten.
So viele Wellen, so viel Lust
Und Freuden aller Arten;
Auch spiegelt er die Welt umher,
Als ob sie noch viel schöner wär';
Drauf fahren wir so lustig hin,
Wie Vöglein durch den Himmel ziehn.

  Die Liebe ist ein heller Stern.
      Wo glüht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten.
Ach, Liebchen, sprich, was läßt du mich
Doch oft so lange warten?
Denn seh' ich dich nicht alle Stund,
Des Sternes Glut mein Herz verbrennt;
Doch kommst du, steigt er mild herauf,
Als geht im Mai die Sonne auf.

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Note for stanza 3, line 1, word 5: in some editions of Schumann, "holder" appears instead of "heller".

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
1. Love's Garden
Language: English 
 Love is a rose bush. 
 Where does it bloom? 
 There now, in our garden, 
 wherein we two, my love and I,
 stay each true to his own, 
 for which in gratitude it
 daily strews new flowers for us.
 And if in heaven roses bloom,
 yet they could not bloom more beautiful.
 
 Love is a clear stream. 
 Where does it flow? 
 There now, in our garden.
 So many waves, so much pleasure
 and all kinds of joy;
 also it mirrors the world around, 
 as though it were even much fairer.
 On it we sail away so happy, 
 as birds fly through the sky.
 
 Love is a shining star. 
 Where does it shine? 
 There now, in our garden.
 O darling tell me, for what do you let me
 often wait so long? 
 For if I do not see you all hours,
 the glow of the star burns my heart; 
 but then you come, it soars gently, 
 as the sun rises in May.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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: 27
Word count: 160

Translation © by David K. Smythe
2. Liebhabers Ständchen
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Liebhabers Ständchen", op. 34 (Vier Duette) no. 2, published 1841 [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Klemm
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Er
Wachst Du noch, Liebchen? Gruß und Kuß!
Dein Liebster naht im Regenguß.
Ihm lähmet Liebe Hand und Fuß;
Er möchte so gern zu seinem Schatz.

Sie
Wenn's draußen noch so stürmisch ist,
Ich kenne junger Burschen List.
Geh hin, woher du kommen bist.
Ich lasse dich nicht ein.

Er
O lass mich ein die eine Nacht,
Die Liebe ist's, die glücklich macht!

Horch, wie die Wetterfahnen wehn!
Sieh, wie die Sternlein untergehn!
Laß mich nicht hier im Regen stehn,
Mach auf, mach auf dein Kämmerlein!

Sie
Der Sturm nicht, der in Nächten droht,
Bringt irrem Wandrer größre Not,
Als einem Mädchen jung und rot
Der Männer süße Schmeichelei'n.

Er
Wehrest du, Liebchen, mir solche Huld,
So tötet mich die Ungeduld,
Und meines frühen Todes Schuld
Trifft dich allein, ja dich allein.

Sie
Das Vöglein auch, das singt und fliegt,
Von Vogelstellers List besiegt,
Zuletzt in böse Schlingen fällt,
Ruft: o traue nicht dem Schein!

Er
O lass mich ein die eine Nacht . . .

Sie
Nein, nein, nein, ich öffne nicht . . .

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Note: this is an interleaving of the two parts of the original text, with several modifications.

2. Lover’s serenade
Language: English 
He
Are you still awake, darling? A greeting and a kiss!
Your beloved is nearing in the downpour of rain,
Love has lamed him hand and foot;
He would so dearly love to come in to his darling!

She
Though it be ever so stormy outdoors --
I know the wiles of young lads --
Get yourself off back whence you came!
I shall not let you in.

He
Oh let me in for the one night,
For it is love that makes one happy!

Listen, how the weathervanes are being blown about;
Look how the stars are sinking;
Do not leave me standing here in the rain;
Open up your chamber!

She
Not the storm that threatens by night
Can bring greater affliction to an erring wandrer
Than to a maiden young and rosy
Bring the sweet flatteries of men.

He
If you deny me such favour,
Then impatience shall kill me
And the fault for my early death
Shall be yours, and only yours.

She
The birdlet, too, that sings and flies,
Conquered by the tricks of the birdcatcher,
Finally lies in an evil noose,
Calls: do not trust appearances!

He
Oh let me in for the one night . . .

She
No, no, no, I shall not let you in . . .

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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This text was added to the website: 2021-02-25
Line count: 36
Word count: 207

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Unterm Fenster
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Unterm Fenster", op. 34 (Vier Duette) no. 3 (1840), published 1841 [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Klemm
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wer ist vor meiner Kammerthür? --
    "Ich bin es," --  ... 
Geh, schier dich fort! was suchst du hier? --
    "Gar Süßes!" --  ... 
Du kommst im Dunkeln, wie ein Dieb. --
    "So fang mich!" --  ... 
Du hast mich wohl ein wenig lieb? --
     "Von Herzen!" --  ... 

Und öffnet' ich nach deinem Wunsch! --
    "O öffne!" --  ... 
Da wär ja Schlaf und Ruhe hin; --
    "Laß hin sein!" --  ... 
Ein Tauber du im Taubenschlag! --
    "Beim Täubchen!" --  ... 
Du girrtest bis zum hellen Tag. --
    "Wohl möglich!" --  ... 

Nein! nimmer lass' ich dich herein! --
    "Thu's dennoch!" --  ... 
Du stelltest wohl dich täglich ein? --
    "Mit Freuden!" --  ... 
Wie keck du bist und was du wagst! --
    "So darf ich?" --  ... 
Daß du's nur keiner Seele sagst! --
    "Gewiß nicht!" --  ...

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by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858)
3. At my door
Language: English 
Who is at my bedroom door?
It's me!
Go, be off with you, what do you want here?
Really sweet!
You come in the dark like a thief.
So catch me!
Do you have a little love for me?
With all my heart!

And if I opened the door as you wish?
O open it!
That would be the end of sleep and peace!
Let them be!
Are you a dove in a dovecot?
With my little dove!
Will you coo until dawn?
Very possibly!

No, I will never let you in!
You must nonetheless!
Would you likely appear every day?
With pleasure!
How cheeky you are and how dare you!
So may I?
As long as you tell not a soul!
Of course not!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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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Translation of title "Unterm Fenster" = "At my door"


This text was added to the website:
Line count: 24
Word count: 125

Translation © by David K. Smythe
4. Familien‑Gemälde
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Familien-Gemälde", op. 34 (Vier Duette) no. 4 (1840), published 1841 [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Klemm
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Großvater und Großmutter,
Die saßen im Gartenhag,
Es lächelte still ihr Antlitz,
Wie'n sonniger Wintertag.

Die Arme verschlungen, ruhten
Ich und der Geliebte dabei,
Uns blühten und klangen die Herzen
Wie Blumenhaine im Mai.

Ein Bächlein rauschte vorüber
Mit plätscherndem Wanderlied;
Stumm zog das Gewölk am Himmel,
Bis unseren Blicken es schied.

Es rasselte von den Bäumen
Das Laub, verwelkt und zerstreut,
Und schweigend an uns vorüber
Zog leisen Schrittes die Zeit.

Stumm blickte auf's junge Pärchen
Das alte stille Paar;
Des Lebens Doppelspiegel
Stand vor uns licht und wahr:

Sie sahn uns an und dachten
Der schönen Vergangenheit;
Wir sahn sie an und dachten
Von ferner, künftiger Zeit.

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by Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876), as Anastasius Grün
4. Portrait of a family
Language: English 
 Grandfather and grandmother,
 they sat in the garden arbour;
 there was a silent smile on their faces,
 like a sunny winter's day.
 
 Arms intertwined,
 my beloved and I rested there,
 our hearts blossomed and sounded
 like flower groves in May.
 
 A little stream rippled by
 with a babbling hiking song;
 silently the clouds drifted in the sky,
 until they disappeared from our view.
 
 The withered foliage of the trees
 rustled and scattered,
 and in silence time with its soft footsteps
 passed by us.
 
 Without a word the old silent pair
 gazed on the young couple.
 A double mirror of life
 stood before us light and true.
 
 They looked at us and thought
 of the beautiful past.
 We looked at them and thought
 of times long in the future.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 128

Translation © by David K. Smythe