English translations of Drei Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier, opus 83

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

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1. Resignation
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Resignation", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 1 (1850), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Schuberth und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lieben, von ganzer Seele, 
Lieben herzinniglich,
Daß nimmer ich's verhehle, 
Heiß lieben muß ich dich!
Wie's kommt? wie kann ich's wissen?
Wohl höher schlägt mein Herz,
Wenn deine Augen grüßen:
Gehst du, erbebts im Schmerz,
Erbebt im heißen Glühen,
Im still verschwiegnen Rausch,
Und Tränen überziehen
Den Blick im Wechseltausch.
Lieben, von ganzer Seele, muß ich dich!

Du wirst mich nie umschließen,
Nie wird dein Aug' mir glühn!
Der Sehnsucht still Vermissen
Wird nie dich zu mir ziehn!
So hoffnungslos mein Lieben?
Gewiß! doch trostlos nicht!
Will Gegenwart nicht trüben,
Zukunft? kenn' ich ja nicht!
Will auch der Trennungsstunde
Schmerz düster mich umwehn,
Lächle mit bleichem Munde:
Jenseits ist Wiedersehn!

Text Authorship:

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possibly by Julius Buddeus (1812 - 1860?)
1. Resignation
Language: English 
[I must] love with my entire soul,
Love with all my heart.
I can never conceal it.
I must love you intensely!
How does it happen?  How can I know?
My heart beats higher
When your eyes greet me:
When you depart, [my heart] trembles with pain,
Trembles with burning heat
In silent, secretive intoxication,
Alternating with tears
That veil my glance.
I must love you with my entire soul!

You will never embrace me,
Never will your eyes glow for me!
Longing and quiet yearning
Will never draw you to me!
Is my loving so hopeless?
Truly!  But not without consolation!
[I] do not wish to dim the present.
The future?  I know nothing of it!
Even if the painful hour of parting
Bleakly wafts about me,
[I] smile with pale lips:
In the hereafter we shall meet again!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-11
Line count: 25
Word count: 140

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
2. Die Blume der Ergebung
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Blume der Ergebung", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 2 (1850), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Schuberth und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich bin die Blum' im Garten,
Und muß in Stille warten,
Wann und in welcher Weise
Du trittst in meine Kreise.

Kommst du, ein Strahl der Sonne,
So werd' ich deiner Wonne
Den Busen still entfalten
Und deinen Blick behalten.

Kommst du als Tau und Regen,
So werd' ich deinen Segen
In Liebesschalen fassen,
Ihn nicht versiegen lassen.

Und fährtest du gelinde
Hin über mich im Winde,
So werd' ich dir mich neigen,
Sprechend: Ich bin dein eigen.

Ich bin die Blum' im Garten,
Und muß in Stille warten,
Wann und in welcher Weise
Du trittst in meine Kreise.

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Note: the first stanza is indeed repeated at the end in the original.

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. The flower of submission
Language: English 
I am the flower in the garden,
And I must wait in silence
[To discover] when and in what manner
You shall approach me.

If you come as a sunbeam,
I shall quietly open my heart
To the delight you bring,
And I shall cherish your glance.

If you come as dew and rain,
I shall gather your blessings
In chalices of love,
And shall not let it ebb away.

And if you gently waft
Over me in the breeze,
I shall bow down before you,
Saying:  I am thine own.

I am the flower in the garden,
And I must wait in silence
[To discover] when and in what manner
You shall approach me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 115

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
3. Der Einsiedler
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Einsiedler", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 3 (1850), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Schuberth und Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Komm, Trost der Welt, du stille Nacht!
Wie steigst du von den Bergen sacht,
Die Lüfte alle schlafen,
Ein Schiffer nur noch, wandermüd',
Singt übers Meer sein Abendlied
Zu Gottes Lob im Hafen.

Die Jahre wie die Wolken gehn
Und lassen mich hier einsam stehn,
Die Welt hat mich vergessen,
Da tratst du wunderbar zu mir,
Wenn ich beim Waldesrauschen hier
Gedankenvoll gesessen.

O Trost der Welt, du stille Nacht!
Der Tag hat mich so müd' gemacht,
Das weite Meer schon dunkelt,
Laß ausruhn mich von Lust und Not,
Bis daß das ew'ge Morgenrot
Den stillen Wald durchfunkelt.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Come, comfort of the world, you still night
Language: English 
 Come, comfort of the world, you still night!
 How softly you climb from the hills!
 The breezes are all sleeping,
 only one sailor still, weary with travel,
 sings across the sea an evening song
 to praise God from the harbor.
 
 The years go by like clouds
 and leave me standing here alone;
 the world has forgotten me.
 Then amazingly, you came to me
 when I was here by the rustling wood,
 sitting lost in thought.
 
 O comfort of the world, you still night!
 The day has made me so weary;
 the wide sea is darkening already.
 Let me rest from joy and suffering
 until the eternal dawn
 illuminates the still wood throughout.

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: 18
Word count: 113

Translation © by Emily Ezust