English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 11

by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909)

1. Wo find' ich Trost  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Wo find' ich Trost", op. 11 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1868 [ low voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Eine Liebe kenn ich, die ist treu, 
War getreu, solang ich sie gefunden,
Hat mit tiefem Seufzen immer neu,
Stets versöhnlich, sich mit mir verbunden.

Welcher einst mit himmlischem Gedulden
Bitter bittern Todestropfen trank,
Hing am Kreuz und büßte mein Verschulden,
Bis es in ein Meer von Gnade sank.

Und was ist's nun, daß ich traurig bin,
Daß ich angstvoll mich am Boden winde?
Frage: Hüter, ist die Nacht bald hin?
Und: was rettet mich von Tod und Sünde?

Arges Herze! Ja gesteh' es nur,
Du hast wieder böse Lust empfangen;
Frommer Liebe, frommer Treue Spur,
Ach, das ist auf lange nun vergangen.

Ja, daß ist's auch, daß ich traurig bin,
Daß ich angstvoll mich am Boden winde!
Hüter, Hüter, ist die Nacht bald hin?
Und was rettet mich von Tod und Sünde?

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. Where do I find comfort
Language: English 
One love I know that is faithful,
That has been faithful through all the time since I found it,
That with deep sighs has ever anew,
Always forgivingly, allied itself to me.
 
He, who once with heavenly patience,
Drank the bitter, bitter drops of death,
Hung upon the cross and atoned for my transgressions
Until they sank into a sea of mercy.
 
And what is happening now, why I am sad?
Why do I anxiously writhe upon the ground?
Asking:  Watchman, is the night soon over?
And:  What shall save me from death and sin?
 
Erring heart!  Yes, only admit it,
You have again conceived evil passions;
Pious love, the track of pious faithfulness,
Ah, those have been gone for a long while now.
 
Yes, that is why then that I am saddened,
That I anxiously writhe upon the ground!
Watchman, watchman is the night soon over?
And what shall save me from death and sin?

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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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 156

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Auf ein altes Bild  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Auf ein altes Bild", op. 11 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1868 [ low voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In grüner Landschaft Sommerflor,
Bei kühlem Wasser, Schilf, und Rohr,
Schau, wie das Knäblein Sündelos
Frei spielet auf der Jungfrau Schoß!
Und dort im Walde wonnesam,
Ach, grünet schon des Kreuzes Stamm!

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Confirmed with Mörike, Eduard, Werke, Herausgegeben von Hannsludwig Geiger, Sonderausgabe der Tempel-Klassiker, Emil Vollmer Verlag, Wiesbaden, p. 106.


by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. To an old picture
Language: English 
In the green landscape of a blossoming summer,
Beside cool water, reeds, and canes,
Behold, how the sinless child
Plays freely on the virgin's knee.
And there, in the woods, blissfully,
Alas, growing already is the stem that will become the cross.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 6
Word count: 42

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. An den Schlaf  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "An den Schlaf", op. 11 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1868 [ low voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlaf! süßer Schlaf! obwohl dem Tod wie du nichts gleicht,
auf diesem Lager doch willkommen heiß' ich dich!
Denn ohne Leben so, wie lieblich lebt es sich!
So weit vom Sterben, ach, wie stirbt es sich so leicht!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3. To Sleep
Language: English 
 Sleep! Sweet Sleep! although, next do death, there is nothing that so much resembles you,
 on this couch I proclaim you welcome!
 For without life so, how lovely it is to live!
 So far from dying, ah! how easy it is to die!

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: 4
Word count: 44

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Seufzer  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Seufzer", op. 11 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1868 [ low voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Liebesfeuer, 
Ach Herr! wie teuer
Wollt' ich es hegen,
Wollt' ich es pflegen! 
Hab's nicht geheget,
Und nicht gepfleget,
Bin tot im Herzen --
O Höllenschmerzen!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 133-134.

Note: the poem is preceded by the Latin inscription 

 Jesu benigne!
 A cuius igne
 Opto flagrare
 Et Te amare:
 Cur non flagravi?
 Cur non amavi
 Te, Jesu Christe?
 - O frigus triste!


by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
4. Sigh
Language: English 
The fire of your love
Oh Lord, how dearly I wanted
to kindle it
and to keep it burning.
I didn't kindle it
I didn't keep it burning,
I am dead in my heart.
Oh pains of hell!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2006-04-07
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by Malcolm Wren