English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 12

Wir wandeln durch die stumme Nacht,
Der Tamtam ist verklungen;
Du schmiegst an meine Brust dich an,
Ich halte dich unschlungen.

Und wo die dunklen Ypern stehn,
Ernst wie ein Schwarz Gerüste,
Da fand ich deinen kleinen Mund,
Die rothe Perlenküste.

Und langsam sind wir weiter dann,
Weiß ich wohin? gegangen.
Ein hellblau Band im Morgen hing,
Der Tag hat angefangen.

Um Ostern war's, der Frühling will
Den letzten Frost entthronen.
Du pflücktest einen Kranz für mich
Von weissen Anemonen.

Den legtest du mir um die Stirn,
Die Sonne kam gezogen
Und hat dir blendend um dein Haupt
Ein Diadem gebogen.

Du lehntest dich auf meinen Arm,
Wir träumten ohn Ermessen.
Die Menschen all im Lärm der Welt,
Die hatten wir vergessen.

We walk through the mute night,
The tamtam has fallen silent;
You press yourself against my breast,
I hold you in my embrace.

And where the dark cypresses stand,
As solemnly as a black scaffolding,
There I found your small mouth,
The red coastline of pearls.

And slowly then we walked on,
I know not where?
A light blue ribbon hung in the morning,
The day has begun.

It was around Easter, spring wishes
To depose the final frost.
You picked for me a wreath
Of [the first]1 anemones.

You placed it round my brow,
The sun appeared
And blindingly encircled your head
With a diadem.

You leaned upon my arm,
We dreamed without limit.
All of the people in the noise of the world,
Those we had forgotten.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), no title, appears in Festnacht und Frühgang, no. 2
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¹ Zilcher: "white"

This text was added to the website: 2019-06-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 130

Ich kann das Wort nicht vergessen,
Es klang so traurig und schwer.
Dein Stimmlein hör ich schluchzen,
Ich weiß, du liebst mich nicht mehr.

Der Abend sank auf die Felder,
Vom Tage nur noch ein Rest.
Die letzten Krähen flogen
Zu fernen Wäldern zu Nest.

Nun sind wir weit geschieden 
Auf Nimmerwiederkehr.
Ich kann das Wort nicht vergessen:
Ich weiß, du liebst mich nicht mehr.

I cannot forget the statement,
It rang out so sadly and heavily.
I hear your little voice sob,
I know you no longer love me.

The evening descended upon the fields,
There was only a remnant left of the day.
The last crows flew
[Toward]1 distant woods to their nests.

Now we are parted, far from each other,
Nevermore to return.
I cannot forget the statement:
I know you no longer love me.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Zu spät", appears in Adjudantenritte
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¹ Zilcher: "To"

This text was added to the website: 2019-06-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Ach, unsre leuchtenden Tage
Glänzen wie ewige Sterne.
Als Trost für künftige Klage
Glüh'n sie aus goldener Ferne.

Nicht weinen,weil sie vorüber!
Lächeln, weil sie gewesen!
Werden die Tage auch trüber,
Unsere Sterne erlösen!

Ah, our radiant days
Sparkle like eternal stars.
As a solace for future lamentation
They glow from the golden distance.

Do not weep because they are past!
Smile, because they once were!
[And even if the days become drearier]1,
Our stars shall save [us]!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Jacobowski (1868 - 1900), "Leuchtende Tage"
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¹ Zilcher: "Even if the days become drearier"; d'Albert: "Though the days shroud us more drearily in greyness"

This text was added to the website: 2012-09-02
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Wenn sanft du mir im Arme schliefst,
ich deinen Atem hören konnte,
im Traum du meinen Namen riefst,
um deinen Mund ein Lächeln sonnte -
Glückes genug.

Und wenn nach heißem, ernstem Tag
du mir verscheuchtest schwere Sorgen,
wenn ich an deinem Herzen lag
und nicht mehr dachte an ein Morgen -
Glückes genug.

 When you slept softly in my arms,
 I could hear your breath;
 in a dream, you called my name
 and your mouth beamed a smile -
 that was happiness enough.
 
 And when, after a hot, solemn day
 you chased away my heavy cares -
 when I lay against your heart
 and thought no more of tomorrow -
 that was happiness enough.

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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Glückes genug", appears in Adjudantenritte, in Liebeslied, no. 2
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 59