English translations of Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm, opus 10

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

1. Zueignung
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Zueignung", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 1 (1882-23)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ja, du weißt es, theure Seele,
Daß ich fern von dir mich quäle,
Liebe macht die Herzen krank,
      Habe Dank.

Einst hielt ich, der Freiheit Zecher,
Hoch den Amethisten-Becher
Und du segnetest den Trank,
      Habe Dank.

Und beschworst darin die Bösen,
Bis ich, was ich nie gewesen,
Heilig, heilig an's Herz dir sank,
      Habe Dank.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
1. Dedication
Language: English 
Yes, you know it, dearest soul,
How I suffer far from you,
Love makes the heart sick,
Have thanks.

Once I, drinker of freedom,
Held high the amethyst beaker,
And you blessed the drink,
Have thanks.

And you exorcised the evils in it,
Until I, as I had never been before,
Blessed, blessed sank upon your heart,
Have thanks.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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 "Zueignung" = "Dedication"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder, Rebecca Plack
2. Nichts
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Nichts", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nennen soll ich, sagt ihr, meine
Königin im Liederreich?
Toren, die ihr seid, ich kenne
Sie am wenigsten von euch.

Fragt mich nach der Augen Farbe,
Fragt mich nach der Stimme Ton,
Fragt nach Gang und Tanz und Haltung,
Ach, und was weiß ich davon!

Ist die Sonne nicht die Quelle
Alles Lebens, alles Lichts?
Und was wissen von derselben
Ich, und ihr, und alle? -- Nichts.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
2. Nothing
Language: English 
I should name, you say, my
queen in the realm of love?
You are fools, for I know
her less than you do.

Ask me about the color of her eyes;
ask me about the sound of her voice;
ask me about her gait and posture, and how she dances;
ah, what do I know about it?

Is not the sun the source
of all life and all light?
And about this, what do 
I and you and everyone know? Nothing.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Die Nacht
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Nacht", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 3 (1882-82)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus dem Walde tritt die Nacht,
Aus den Bäumen schleicht sie leise,
Schaut sich um in weitem Kreise,
    Nun gib Acht!

Alle Lichter dieser Welt,
Alle Blumen, alle Farben
Löscht sie aus und stiehlt die Garben
    Weg vom Feld.

Alles nimmt sie, was nur hold,
Nimmt das Silber weg des Stroms
Nimmt vom Kupferdach des Doms
    Weg das Gold.

Ausgeplündert steht der Strauch:
Rücke näher, Seel' an Seele,
O die Nacht, mir bangt, sie stehle
    Dich mir auch.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
3. The night
Language: English 
Night steps out of the woods,
And sneaks softly out of the trees,
Looks about in a wide circle,
Now beware.

All the lights of this earth,
All flowers, all colors
It extinguishes, and steals the sheaves
From the field.

It takes everything that is dear,
Takes the silver from the stream,
Takes away, from the cathedral's copper roof,
The gold.

The shrubs stand plundered,
Draw nearer, soul to soul;
Oh, I fear the night will also steal
You from me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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: 16
Word count: 81

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder, Rebecca Plack
4. Die Georgine
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Georgine", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum so spät erst, Georgine?
Das Rosenmärchen ist erzählt
Und honigsatt hat sich die Biene
Ihr Bett zum Schlummer ausgewählt.

Sind nicht zu kalt dir diese Nächte?
Wie lebst du diese Tage hin?
Wenn ich dir jetzt den Frühling brächte,
Du feuergelbe Träumerin.

Wenn ich mit Maithau dich benetzte,
Begösse dich mit Juni-Licht?
Doch ach, dann wärst du nicht die Letzte,
Die stolze Einzige auch nicht.

Wie, Träumerin, lock' ich vergebens?
So reich' mir schwesterlich die Hand,
Ich hab' den Maitag dieses Lebens
Wie du den Frühling nicht gekannt.

Und spät, wie dir, du feuergelbe,
Stahl sich die Liebe mir in's Herz;
Ob spät, ob früh, es ist dasselbe
Entzücken und derselbe Schmerz.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
4. The dahlia
Language: English 
Why are you so late, dahlia?
The story of roses has already been told,
and sated with honey, the bee
has already chosen a bed in which to slumber.

Are these nights not too cold for you?
How do you survive in these times?
If I now brought you the Spring,
you fiery yellow dreamer,

if I moistened you with May dew
and watered you with June light...
but then you would not be the last,
and you would not be proud of your uniqueness.

How then, dreamer, do I entice you in vain?
Reach me your sisterly hand,
for in this life I have not known May days,
just as you have not known Spring;

and, late like you, fiery yellow one,
love stole into my heart.
But whether it is late or early, it is nonetheless
both a delight and an agony.

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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Translations of titles:
"Die Georgine" = "The dahlia"
"An die Georgine" = "To the dahlia"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 144

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Geduld
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Geduld", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geduld, sagst du, und zeigst mit weißem Finger
Auf meiner Zukunft festgeschloss'ne Tür;
Ist die Minute, die da lebt, geringer
Als jene ungebornen? Sage mir;
Kannst mit der Liebe du den Lenz verschieben,
Dann borg' ich dir für eine Ewigkeit,
Doch mit dem Frühling endet auch das Lieben,
Und keine Herzens-Schulden zahlt die Zeit.

Geduld, sagst du und senkst die schwarze Locke,
Und stündlich fallen Blumenblätter ab,
Und stündlich fordert eine Totenglocke
Der Träne letztes Fahrgeld für das Grab.
Sieh' nur die Tage schnell vorüberrinnen,
Horch, wie sie mahnend klopfen an die Brust:
Mach auf, mach auf, was wir nicht heut' gewinnen,
Ist morgen unersetzlicher Verlust.

Geduld, sagst du und senkst die Augenlider,
Verneint ist meine Frage an das Glück;
So lebe wohl, ich seh' dich nimmer wieder,
So will's mein unerbittliches Geschick.
Du hast geglaubt, weil andre warten müssen
Und warten können, kann und muß ich's auch,
Ich aber hab' zum Lieben und zum Küßen
Nur einen Frühling, wie der Rosenstrauch.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
5. Patience
Language: English 
"Patience!" you say, and point with a white finger
to my future's firmly closed door.
Is the minute in which I now live less important
than those that are yet to come? Tell me!
If you can delay the Spring with love,
then I will owe you for eternity,
but with the Spring love will also end,
and time pays no debts of the heart.

"Patience!" you say and let your dark locks fall, 
and petals fall hourly from the flowers,
and funeral bells demand hourly
the last travel-toll of tears for the grave.
Just see how quickly the days run past,
listen how urgently they knock upon the breast!
Open up! open up! what we do not gain today
is tomorrow's irrecoverable loss.

"Patience!" you say and droop your eyelids,
denying my question about happiness;
therefore, fare thee well, I will never see you again:
my adamant fate thus wills it.
You believed that, because others must wait -
and can wait - then I too must and can wait;
but for love and kisses I have
only one Springtime, like the rosebush.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 182

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Die Verschwiegenen
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Verschwiegenen", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich habe wohl, es sei hier laut
Vor aller Welt verkündigt,
Gar vielen heimlich anvertraut,
Was du an mir gesündigt;

Ich sagt's dem ganzen Blumenheer,
Dem Veilchen sagt' ich's stille,
Der Rose laut und lauter der
Großäugigen Kamille.

Doch hat's dabei noch keine Not,
Bleib' munter nur und heiter,
Die es gewußt, sind alle tot,
Und sagen's nicht mehr weiter.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
6. The discreet ones
Language: English 
I am happy, it is announced out loud here
to the whole world,
what was confided to many in private,
what you have done to me;

I've said it to the whole army of the flowers,
To the violet, I said it softly,
To the rose, loudly.
Even louder to the great-eyed camomile.

And so, I have no more distress,
I remain only bright and cheerful,
For those who knew it are all dead,
And will say nothing further.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Judith Kellock, (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: 79

Translation © by Judith Kellock
7. Die Zeitlose
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Zeitlose", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 7
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf frisch gemähtem Weideplatz
Steht einsam die Zeitlose,
Den Leib von einer Lilie,
Die Farb' von einer Rose;

Doch es ist Gift, was aus dem Kelch,
Dem reinen, blinkt, so rötlich;
Die letzte Blum', die letzte Lieb'
Sind beide schön, doch tödlich.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
7. The meadow saffron
Language: English 
Upon a freshly mown pasture
stands a solitary meadow saffron,
its body that of a lily,
its color that of a rose.

Yet it is poison that glints from the chalice,
pure and red -
the last flower - the last love -
both are fair, yet both are deadly.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
8. Allerseelen
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Allerseelen", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 8 (1882-3)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Stell auf den Tisch die duftenden Reseden,
  Die letzten roten Astern trag herbei,
Und laß uns wieder von der Liebe reden,
    Wie einst im Mai.

Gib mir die Hand, daß ich sie heimlich drücke
  Und wenn man's sieht, mir ist es einerlei,
Gib mir nur einen deiner süßen Blicke,
    Wie einst im Mai.

Es blüht und duftet heut auf jedem Grabe,
  Ein Tag im Jahr ist ja den Toten frei,
Komm an mein Herz, daß ich dich wieder habe,
    Wie einst im Mai.

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by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
8. All Souls' Day
Language: English 
Place on the table the fragrant mignonettes,
Bring inside the last red asters,
and let us speak again of love,
as once we did in May.

Give me your hand, so that I can press it secretly;
and if someone sees us, it's all the same to me.
Just give me your sweet gaze,
as once you did in May.

Flowers adorn today each grave, sending off their fragrances;
one day in the year is free for the dead.
Come close to my heart, so that I can have you again,
as once I did in May.

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 of title "Allerseelen" = "All Souls' Day"

Translator's note for stanza 3, line 2: i.e., the holiday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust