English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 13

by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909)

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1. An eine Äolsharfe  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "An eine Äolsharfe", op. 13 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Angelehnt an die Efeuwand 
Dieser alten Terrasse,
Du, einer luftgebor'nen Muse
Geheimnisvolles Saitenspiel,
Fang' an,
Fange wieder an 
Deine melodische Klage!
Ihr kommet, Winde, fern herüber,
Ach! von des Knaben,
Der mir so lieb war,
Frischgrünendem Hügel.
Und Frühlingsblüten [unterwegs]1 streifend,
Übersättigt mit Wohlgerüchen,
Wie süß, wie süß bedrängt ihr dies Herz!
Und säuselt her in die Saiten,
Angezogen von wohllautender Wehmut,
Wachsend im Zug meiner Sehnsucht,
Und hinsterbend wieder.
Aber auf einmal,
Wie der Wind heftiger herstößt,
Ein holder Schrei der Harfe
Wiederholt mir zu süßem Erschrecken
Meiner Seele plötzliche Regung,
Und hier, die volle Rose streut geschüttelt
All' ihre Blätter vor meine Füße!

Text Authorship:

  • by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), from Gedichtsammlung, first published 1838

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1 Brahms: "unterweges"
Note: the poem is preceded by a quotation from Horace:
   Tu semper urges fleblilibus modis
   Mysten ademptum: nec tibi Vespere
   Surgente decedunt amores,
   Nec rapidum fugiente Solem.

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. To an aeolian harp
Language: English 
Leaning up against the ivy-covered wall
Of this old terrace,
You, an air-borne muse,
A lute-melody full of mystery,
Begin,
Begin again,
Your melodious lament!
You come, winds, from far away,
Ah! from the boy 
Who was so dear to me,
From his hill so freshly green.
On your way, streaking over spring blossoms
Saturated with sweet scents,
How sweetly, how sweetly you besiege my heart!
You rustle the strings here,
Drawn by harmonious melancholy,
Growing louder in the pull of my longing,
And then dying down again.
But all at once,
The wind blows violently
And a lovely cry of the harp
Echoes, to my sweet terror,
The sudden stirring of my soul,
And here, the ample rose shakes and strews
All its petals at my feet!

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: 25
Word count: 128

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Mausfallensprüchlein  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Mausfallensprüchlein", op. 13 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1879 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kleine Gäste, kleines Haus.
Liebe Mäusin oder Maus,
[Stell]1 dich nur kecklich ein
[Heut']2 nacht bei Mondenschein!
Mach aber die [Tür]3 fein hinter dir zu,
Hörst du?
[Dabei]4 hüte dein Schwänzchen!
Nach Tische singen wir,
Nach Tische springen wir
Und machen ein Tänzchen:
Witt witt!
Meine alte Katze tanzt wahrscheinlich mit.

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Note: The poem is preceded by this line: "(Das Kind geht dreimal um die Falle und spricht:)"

1 Holstein, Wolf: "Stelle"
2 Holstein, Wolf: "Heute"
3 Holstein: "Türe"
4 Holstein: "Hüte, ja"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. A little mousetrap epigram
Language: English 
 Little guests, little house.
 Dear Miss or Mister Mouse,
 just boldly present yourself
 tonight in the moonlight!
 But shut the door tight behind you,
 do you hear?
 And be careful of your tail!
 After supper we will sing,
 After supper we will jump
 and do a little dance;
 Witt witt!
 My old cat will probably dance with us.

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: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen", op. 13 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1855-64
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen,
Mit den Äuglein süß und klar,
Du mein liebes, kleines Mädchen,
Deiner denk' ich immerdar.

 Lang ist heut der Winterabend,
Und ich möchte bei dir sein,
[Bei dir sitzen, mit dir schwatzen]1,
Im vertrauten Kämmerlein.

  An die Lippen [wollt']2 ich pressen
Deine [kleine]3 weiße Hand,
Und mit Thränen sie benetzen,
Deine [kleine, weiße]4 Hand.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 137.

1 Dresel: "mit dir schwatzen, mit dir kosen"
2 Dresel: "möcht"
3 Dresel: "liebe"
4 Dresel: "weiße, liebe"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Maiden with the red little mouth
Language: English 
 Maiden with the red little mouth,
 with eyes sweet and clear:
 You are my dear little maiden -
 I think of you all the time.
 
 The winter evening drags tonight,
 and I would be with you,
 to sit by you and chat
 in a cosy little room.
 
 I would like to press to my lips
 your small white hand,
 and moisten it with my tears,
 your small white hand.

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: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Keine Heimath mehr  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Keine Heimath mehr", op. 13 (Vier Lieder) no. 4 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O daß du mich verlassen,
Du liebe, treue Hand!
Den Wanderstab zu fassen,
Bin ich nicht mehr imstand.
Nur durch die Zimmer geh' ich
Mit Füßen müd und schwer,
Die alten Wände seh' ich,
Doch keine Heimat mehr.
Geh' durch des Gartens Räume
Im Sonn- und Mondenlicht,
Seh' wohl die alten Bäume,
Die alte Heimat nicht.
Die sank, seit du verschieden,
Ins tiefe, tiefe Meer,
Hab' keinen, keinen Frieden,
Hab' keine Heimat mehr!

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by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
4. No longer any home
Language: English 
Oh that you left me,
You dear, faithful hand!
I am no longer able
To grasp the walking staff.
I only walk through the rooms
With feet that are weary and heavy,
I see the old walls,
But no home any longer.
I walk through the expanse of the garden
In sunlight and in moonlight,
I see the old trees,
But not the old home.
It sank, since you passed away,
Into the deep, deep ocean.
I have no peace, none,
I no longer have any home!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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: 2013-09-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 87

Translation © by Sharon Krebs