English translations of Gedichte von Goethe: IX, opus 61

by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850)

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1. Wonne der Wehmut  [sung text not yet checked]
by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Wonne der Wehmut", op. 61 (Gedichte von Goethe: IX) no. 1 (1815?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
Thränen der ewigen Liebe!
Ach! nur dem halbgetrockneten Auge
[Wie öde, wie todt die Welt ihm erscheint]1!
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
[Thränen unglücklicher Liebe!]2

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 108; and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, page 151.

1 Howe: "Wie öde, wie todt die Welt ihm erscheinet" ; Randhartinger: "Wie öde, wie tief die Welt ihm erscheint! / Wie öde, wie tot die Welt ihm erscheint" (note the use of "tief" in the first repetition of this line)
2 Randhartinger : "Tränen der ewigen Liebe!" (the second line is used instead of the last)

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. The joy of sadness
Language: English 
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of eternal love!
Even to the half-dry eye
How desolate and dead the world appears!
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of unhappy love!

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 "Wonne der Wehmut" = "The joy of sadness"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Erinnerung  [sung text not yet checked]
by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Erinnerung", op. 61 (Gedichte von Goethe: IX) no. 2 (1815?) [ vocal trio for soprano, tenor, and bass, with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Willst Du immer weiter schweifen?
Sieh, das Gute liegt so nah.
Lerne nur das Glück ergreifen,
Denn das Glück ist immer da.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Memory
Language: English 
Will you always keep wondering?
Look, the good thing is so near.
Learn to embrace happiness only,
Because happiness is always there.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Helios Hong, (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: 2023-08-23
Line count: 4
Word count: 22

Translation © by Helios Hong
3. Meeresstille
 (Sung text)
by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Meeresstille", op. 61 (Gedichte von Goethe: IX) no. 3 (1815?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tiefe Stille herrscht im Wasser,
Ohne Regung ruht das Meer,
Und bekümmert sieht der Schiffer
Glatte Fläche rings umher.
Keine Luft von keiner Seite!
Todesstille fürchterlich!
In der ungeheuern Weite
Reget keine Welle sich.

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Note: The poem's title in the first edition (Schiller's Musenalmanach 1796) is "Meeresstille", from the second edition on (1800) it is "Meeres Stille".

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Deep stillness reigns on the water
Language: English 
Deep stillness reigns on the water;
motionless, the sea rests,
and the sailor gazes about with alarm
at the smooth flatness all around.

No breeze from any side!
It is fearfully, deathly still!
In the enormous expanse
not one wave stirs.

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: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Glückliche Fahrt
 (Sung text)
by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Glückliche Fahrt", op. 61 (Gedichte von Goethe: IX) no. 4 (1815?) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Nebel zerreißen,
Der Himmel ist helle
Und Aeolus löset
Das ängstliche Band. 
Es säuseln die Winde,
Es rührt sich der Schiffer. 
Geschwinde! Geschwinde! 
Es theilt sich die Welle,
Es naht sich die Ferne,
Schon seh' ich das Land!

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Note: Goethe's "Meeres Stille" and "Glückliche Fahrt" constitute a pair of poems belonging together.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. Prosperous voyage
Language: English 
The mist is pulled aside,
The sky lights up,
And Aeolus undoes
The ties of fear.

There, the winds rustle,
There, the sailor moves on.

Hurry! Hurry!
The waves are breaking.
The distant becomes nearby,
Already, I see the land!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Karel Vereycken, (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: 2005-05-08
Line count: 10
Word count: 40

Translation © by Karel Vereycken