English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 12

by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909)

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1. Du bist Orplid, mein Land   [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Du bist Orplid, mein Land ", op. 12 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1879? [ baritone or mezzo-soprano and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist Orplid, mein Land!
Das ferne leuchtet;
Vom Meere dampfet dein besonnter Strand
Den Nebel, so der Götter Wange feuchtet.

Uralte Wasser steigen
Verjüngt um deine Hüften, Kind!
Vor deiner Gottheit beugen 
Sich Könige, die deine Wärter sind.

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Confirmed with Mörike, Eduard, Werke, Herausgegeben von Hannsludwig Geiger, Sonderausgabe der Tempel-Klassiker, Emil Vollmer Verlag, Wiesbaden, p. 65.


by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. Weyla's song
Language: English 
 You are Orplid, my land!
 the distant gleaming;
 From the sea, your sunny shore 
 steams with mist, which moistens the cheeks of gods.
 
 Ancient waters rise
 rejuvenated about your hips, child!
 To your divinity bow
 kings, who are your attendants.

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: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Heimweh  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Heimweh", op. 12 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1879, Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Anders wird die Welt mit jedem Schritt,
Den ich weiter von der Liebsten mache;
Mein Herz, das will nicht weiter mit.
Hier scheint die Sonne kalt in's Land,
Hier däucht mir Alles unbekannt,
Sogar die Blumen am Bache!
Hat jede Sache 
So fremd eine Miene, so falsch ein Gesicht.
Das Bächlein murmelt wohl und spricht:
Armer Knabe, komm bei mir vorüber,
Siehst auch hier Vergißmeinnicht!
-- Ja, die sind schön an jedem Ort,
Aber nicht wie dort.
Fort, nur fort!
Die Augen gehn mir über!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. Homesickness
Language: English 
The world becomes different with every step
that takes me farther away from my beloved;
my heart -- it will not go any farther with me.
Here the sun shines coldly upon the land,
here everything seems unfamiliar to me,
even the very flowers along the stream! 
Every thing has
So strange a look, so wrong a face.
The streamlet murmurs well and speaks:
"Poor boy, come along beside me -
you see forget-me-nots here as well!"
Yes, they are beautiful everywhere,
but these are not anything like the ones there.
Onward, simply onward!
My eyes spill over.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 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: 2005-09-05
Line count: 15
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Lebe wohl! du fühlest nicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Lebe wohl! du fühlest nicht", op. 12 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1879? [ baritone or mezzo-soprano and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
«[Lebe wohl!]1» - Du [fühlest]2 nicht,
Was es heißt, dies Wort der Schmerzen;
Mit getrostem Angesicht
[Sagtest du's und]3 leichtem Herzen.

[Lebe wohl!]1 - Ach, tausendmal
Hab' ich mir es vorgesprochen.
Und in nimmersatter Qual
Mir das Herz damit gebrochen.

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, pages 54-55.

1 Cahn-Speyer: "Lebewohl!"
2 Cahn-Speyer: "fühlst es"; Graben-Hoffmann: "fürchtest" (according to Hofmeister), further changes may exist not shown above.
3 Cahn-Speyer: "Sprachest du's, mit"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3.
Language: English 
Farewell! you feel not
what this means - this word of pain;
with a confident face
you said it, and with a light heart.
 
Farewell! Alas! a thousand times
I have pronounced it to myself,
and with insatiable torment,
broken my own heart with it!

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
"Lebe wohl" = "Farewell"
"Lebewohl" = "Farewell"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Mir ist, nun ich dich habe   [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Mir ist, nun ich dich habe ", op. 12 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1879? [ baritone or mezzo-soprano and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mir ist, nun ich dich habe,
Als müßt' ich sterben.
Was könnt' ich, das mich labe,
Noch sonst erwerben?

Mir ist, nun ich dich habe,
Ich sei gestorben.
Mir ist zum stillen [Grabe]1
Dein Herz erworben.

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1 Reger: "Grab"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
4. Dedication
Language: English 
I feel, now you are mine,
As if I'd rather die.
What more could I relish in,
Or strive for?

I feel, now you are mine,
As if I were dead,
And laid to rest
in your heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Linda Godry, (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: 2007-06-19
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by Linda Godry