English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 23

by Eduard Behm (1862 - 1946)

Return to the original list

1. Zwei Särge
 (Sung text)
by Eduard Behm (1862 - 1946), "Zwei Särge", op. 23 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwei Särge einsam stehen
In des alten Domes Hut,
König Ottmar liegt in dem einen,
In dem andern der Sänger ruht.

Der König saß einst mächtig
Hoch auf der Väter Thron,
Ihm liegt das Schwert in der Rechten
Und auf dem Haupt die Kron'.

Doch neben dem stolzen König,
Da liegt der Sänger traut,
Man noch in seinen Händen
Die fromme Harfe schaut.

Die Burgen rings zerfallen,
Schlachtruf tönt durch das Land,
Das Schwert, das regt sich nimmer
Da in des Königs Hand.

Blüten und milde Lüfte
Weben das Tal entlang -
Des Sängers Harfe tönet
In ewigem Gesang.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

See also König und Sänger set by H. G. Goetz.

by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
1.
Language: English 
Two coffins stand alone
In the keep of the old cathedral,
King Ottmar lies in the [one]1,
In the other the singer rests.

The king once sat in might
High upon the throne of his ancestors,
The sword lies in his right hand
And upon his head the crown.

But beside the proud monarch,
There lies the modest singer,
In his hands one can still see
The noble harp.

The castles [round about are crumbling]2,
A battle-cry resounds through the land,
The sword, it never moves
[There]3 in the hand of the [king]4.

Blossoms and mild breezes
[Waft]5 along the valley -
The singer's harp rings out
In eternal song.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translated titles:
"Zwei Särge" = "Two coffins"
"Die zwei Särge" = "The two coffins"
"Des Sängers Harfe" = "The minstrel’s harp"

1 Triest: "first one"
2 Isenmann: "have crumbled"
3 omitted by Abt
4 Triest: "old king"
5 Behm: "Weave their way"


This text was added to the website: 2013-09-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 117

Translation © by Sharon Krebs