English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 4

by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909)

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1. Waldgespräch  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Waldgespräch", op. 4 (Vier Lieder) no. 1 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist schon spät, es [wird]1 schon kalt,
Was reitst du einsam durch den Wald?
Der Wald ist lang, du bist allein,
Du schöne Braut! Ich führ dich heim!

"Groß ist der Männer Trug und List,
Vor Schmerz mein Herz gebrochen ist,
Wohl irrt das Waldhorn her und hin,
O flieh! Du weißt nicht, wer ich bin."

So reich geschmückt ist Roß und Weib,
So wunderschön der junge Leib,
Jetzt kenn ich dich - Gott steh mir bei!
Du bist die Hexe Lorelei. -

"Du kennst mich wohl - von hohem Stein
Schaut still mein Schloß tief in den Rhein.
Es ist schon spät, es [wird]1 schon kalt,
Kommst nimmermehr aus diesem Wald."

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1 Schumann, Zemlinsky: "ist"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. Conversation in the wood
Language: English 
It is already late, it is already cold;
why do you ride alone through the wood?
The wood is vast and you are alone,
you fair bride! I will lead you home.

"Great are the deceit and cunning of men;
my heart has broken for pain.
The forest horn strays here and there,
o flee! You do not know who I am." 

So richly decked are mount and lady,
so wondrously fair the young form;
now I recognize you - God stand by me!
You are the Witch Loreley.

"You recognize me well - from the lofty cliffs
my castle gazes down into the Rhine.
It is already late, it is already cold -
you shall never again leave this wood."

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: 16
Word count: 118

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. In der Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "In der Nacht", op. 4 (Vier Lieder) no. 2 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Leben draußen ist verrauschet,
Die Lichter löschen aus,
Schauernd mein Herz am Fenster lauschet
Still in die Nacht hinaus.
 
Da nun der laute Tag zerronnen
Mit seiner Not und Lust,
Was hast du in dem Spiel gewonnen,
Was blieb der müden Brust? --
 
Der Mond ist trostreich aufgegangen,
Da unterging die Welt,
Der Sterne heil'ge Bilder prangen
So einsam hochgestellt!
 
O Herr! auf dunkelschwankem Meere
Fahr' ich im schwachen Boot,
Treu folgend deinem goldnen Heere
Zum ew'gen Morgenrot.

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Confirmed with Joseph von Eichendorff Sämtliche Gedichte und Versepen, Frankfurt am Main und Leipzig: Insel Verlag, 2001, pages 123-124. Note for stanza 2, line 2: in some editions of Eichendorff, the line is "Mit seiner Not und bunten Lust".


by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. In the night
Language: English 
Life outside has passed away,
The lights are being extinguished;
Shuddering, my heart hearkens at the window
Quietly out into the night.
 
Now that the loud day has faded away
With its adversity and joy,
What did you achieve in the action,
What remained for the weary breast? --
 
The moon has risen comfortingly
As the world sank away,
The holy images of the stars stand
In resplendent solitude on high!
 
Oh Lord! upon a darksome rocking sea
I travel in a flimsy boat,
Faithfully following your golden host
To the eternal sunrise.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translations of titles
"In der Nacht" = "In the night"
"Das Leben draussen ist verrauschet" = "Life outside has passed away"



This text was added to the website: 2015-08-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Vom Berge   [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Vom Berge ", op. 4 (Vier Lieder) no. 3 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Da]1 unten wohnte sonst mein Lieb,
Die ist jetzt schon begraben,
Der Baum noch vor der Türe blieb,
Wo wir gesessen haben.

Stets muß ich nach dem Hause sehn
Und seh doch nichts vor Weinen
Und wollt' ich auch hinuntergehn,
Ich stürb' dort so alleine!

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1 Hasse: "Dort"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3.
Language: English 
Down there once lived my love,
Who has now already been buried;
The tree still remains before the door
Where we used to sit.

I always want to see the house
And yet I see nothing through my tears
And if I wanted to go down too,
There I would die, utterly alone!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 "Vom Berge" = "From the mountain"


This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 53

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Der Spinnerin Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Der Spinnerin Nachtlied", op. 4 (Vier Lieder) no. 4 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  [Es sang vor langen]1 Jahren
Wohl auch die Nachtigall!
[Das war wohl süßer Schall,]2
[Da wir zusammen waren.]3

  Ich sing' und kann nicht weinen,
Und spinne so allein,
Den Faden klar und rein
So lang' der Mond [wird]4 scheinen.

  [Da]5 wir [zusammen]6 waren,
Da sang die Nachtigall;
Nun [mahnet]7 mich ihr Schall,
[Daß]8 du von mir gefahren.

  So oft der Mond mag scheinen,
[Gedenk' ich]9 dein allein.
Mein Herz ist klar und rein --
Gott wolle uns vereinen!

  Seit du von mir gefahren,
Singt stets die Nachtigall,
Ich [denke]10 bei ihrem Schall,
Wie wir zusammen waren.

  Gott wolle uns vereinen!
Hier spinn' ich so allein.
Der Mond scheint klar und rein,
Ich sing' und möchte weinen!

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Confirmed with Clemens Brentano, Aus der Chronika eines fahrenden Schülers, Berlin: Paul Gerh. Heinersdorff, Hofbuchhandlung, [1871], pages 31-32.

1 Kauffmann: "Es sang vor vielen"; Matthes: "Einst sang vor langen"; further changes may exist not noted.
2 Lang (op. 36[38]): "Da wir beisammen waren"; Lang (unpublished): " Als wir beisammen waren,"; Thuille: "Das war so süßer Schall"
3 Lang (op. 36[38]): "Das war wohl süßer Schall!"; Lang (unpublished): "Ach! es war wohl süßer Schall!"
4 Lang (op. 36[38] when the text is repeated): "mag"; Thuille: "will"
5 Reichardt: "Als"
6 Thuille: "beisammen"
7 Reichardt: "martert"
8 Reichardt: "Da"
9 Reichardt: "Denk ich wohl"
10 Lang (op. 36[38]), Reichardt, Thuille: "denk' "

by Clemens Maria Wenzeslaus von Brentano (1778 - 1842)
4.
Language: English 
  [Long]1 years ago the nightingale
Must surely have sung as well!
[That was indeed a sweet sound]2
When we were together.]3

  I sing and cannot weep,
And thus alone I spin
The thread so clear and pure
As long as the moon [shall]4 shine.

  When we were together
The nightingale sang;
Now its sound [reminds]5 me
[That]6 you have gone away from me.

  Whenever the moon shines,
[I think]7 only of you.
My heart is serene and pure -
May God unite us.

  Since you went away from me,
The nightingale is always singing;
When I hear it I remember
How we used to be together.

  May God unite us!
Here I spin all alone.
The moon shines so clearly and purely;
I sing and want to weep.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 

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Translated titles:
Altes Lied = Old song
Der Spinnerin Lied = Song of a spinning girl
Der Spinnerin Nachtlied = Night song of a spinning girl Es sang vor langen Jahren = Long years ago there sang
Lied der Spinnerin= Song of a spinning girl
Sehnsucht = Yearning
1 Kauffmann: "Many"; further changes may exist not noted.
2 Lang (both settings): "When we were together"; Thuille: "That was such a sweet sound"
3 Lang (op. 36[38]): "That was indeed a sweet sound!"; Lang (unpublished): "Ah! it was indeed a sweet sound!"
4 Lang (op. 36[38] when the text is repeated): "might"; Thuille: "wishes to"
5 Reichardt: "tortures"
6 Reichardt: "Since"
7 Reichardt: "I indeed think"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 135

Translation © by Sharon Krebs