English translations of Romanzen und Balladen für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4), opus 64

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

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1. Die Soldatenbraut
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Soldatenbraut", op. 64 (Romanzen und Balladen für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 1 (1847), published 1847 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach, wenn's nur der König auch wüßt',
Wie wacker mein Schätzelein ist!
Für den König, da ließ' er sein Blut,
Für mich aber eben so gut.

Mein Schatz hat kein Band und kein' Stern,
Kein Kreuz wie die vornehmen Herrn,
Mein Schatz wird auch kein General;
Hätt' er nur seinen Abschied einmal!

Es scheinen drei Sterne so hell
Dort über Marien-Kapell;
Da knüpft uns ein rosenrot' Band,
Und ein Hauskreuz ist auch bei der Hand.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. The soldier's bride
Language: English 
Ah, if only the king knew as well
How valiant my darling is!
He would offer his lifeblood for the king,
But [just]1 the same for me.
 
My darling has no ribbons and medals,
No crosses like the lordly gentlemen,
My darling will also not become a general;
If only he could get his discharge!
 
Three stars shine so brightly
There over the Chapel of St. Mary;
There a rosy-red ribbon shall unite us,
And a cross to bear at home2 is also already on hand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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Translated titles:
"Die Soldatenbraut" = "The soldier's bride"
"Soldatenbraut" = "Soldier's bride"

1 Berg: "also just"
2 "Hauskreuz" is a German idiom for a cranky wife.


This text was added to the website: 2015-03-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Das verlassene Mägdelein
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Das verlassene Mägdelein", op. 64 (Romanzen und Balladen für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 2 (1847), published 1847 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Früh, wann die Hähne kräh'n,
Eh' die Sternlein schwinden,
Muß ich am Heerde steh'n,
Muß Feuer zünden.

Schön ist der Flamme Schein,
Es springen die Funken.
Ich schaue so darein,
In Leid versunken.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Treuloser Knabe,
Daß ich die Nacht von dir
Geträumet habe.

Träne auf Träne dann
Stürzet hernieder;
So kommt der Tag heran -
O ging' er wieder!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2.
Language: English 
Early, when the cock crows,
Before the stars disappear,
I must stand at the hearth;
I must light the fire.

Beautiful is the blaze of the flames;
[The sparks fly]1.
I gaze into the fire,
Sunk in grief.

Suddenly, it comes to me,
Unfaithful boy,
That last night
I dreamed of you.

Tears upon tears then 
Pour down;
So the day comes -
O would it were gone again!

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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Translated titles:
"Das verlassene Mägdlein" = "The abandoned maiden"
"Die Verlassene" = "The abandoned one"
1 Reinecke: "Bright fly the sparks"


This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

3. Tragödie 
Entflieh mit mir und sei mein Weib,
Und ruh' an meinem Herzen aus;
In weiter Ferne sei mein Herz
Dein Vaterland und Vaterhaus.

Entfliehn wir nicht, so sterb' ich hier
Und du bist einsam und allein;
Und bleibst du auch im Vaterhaus,
Wirst doch wie in der Fremde sein.

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor] 
Es fiel ein Reif in der Frühlingsnacht,    
Es fiel auf die zarten Blaublümelein:
Sie sind verwelket, verdorret.

Ein Jüngling hatte ein Mädchen lieb,
Sie flohen heimlich von Hause fort,
Es wußt' weder Vater noch Mutter.

Sie sind gewandert hin und her,
Sie haben gehabt weder Glück noch Stern,
Sie sind gestorben, verdorben.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 151. Below the number at the top of the text are the following words: "(Dieses ist ein wirkliches Volkslied, welches ich am Rheine gehört.)" which can be translated "This is a real folksong that I heard on the Rhein". See also Backer-Grøndahl's song, which uses some of this text.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor] 
Auf ihrem Grab, da steht eine Linde,
Drin pfeifen die Vögel im Abendwinde,
Und drunter sitzt, auf dem grünen Platz,
Der Müllersknecht mit seinem Schatz.

Die Winde wehen so lind und so schaurig,
Die Vögel singen so süß und so traurig:
Die schwatzenden Buhlen, sie werden stumm,
Sie weinen und wissen selbst nicht warum.

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Flee with me and be my wife
 Flee with me and be my wife,
 and rest upon my heat;
 in distant lands let my heart
 be your fatherland and your parental home.
 
 If we do not flee, I'll die here
 and you will be lonely and alone;
 and you will remain in your parental house,
 but it will be like a foreign land to 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.


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There fell a frost on a night of Spring,
it fell on the delicate blossoms blue:
the blossoms withered, and drooped.

A young man once loved a maiden fair;
in secret they ran away from home,
unknown to their father or mother.

They wandered aimless here and there,
they had neither luck nor aiding star,
they met their ruin, they perished.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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 Over their grave stands a linden tree,
 in which the birds are piping in the evening wind,
 and on the grass underneath sits
 the miller's boy with his sweetheart.
 
 The wind blows so mildly and eerily,
 the birds sing so sweetly and mournfully:
 the chattering youngsters, they fall silent;
 they weep and they do not know why.

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 © by David Kenneth Smith, Emily Ezust