English translations of Fünf Lieder von Goethe, opus 12

by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908)

1. März  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "März", op. 12 (Fünf Lieder von Goethe) no. 1, published 1861 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist ein Schnee gefallen,
Denn es ist noch nicht Zeit,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Wir werden hoch erfreut.

Der Sonnenblick betrüget
Mit mildem falschem Schein,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Warum? Sie kommt allein!

Sollt' ich mich einzeln freuen,
Wenn auch der Frühling nah?
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Gleich ist der Sommer da!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Goethe, Dritte Auflage, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1873, page 18.


by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1.
Language: English 
The snow has fallen;
it is not yet time
for all the flowers
for all the flowers
to delight us.
 
The sun swindles us
with a mild, false glow;
even the swallow is lying,
even the swallow is lying -
and why? because he comes alone!

Should I enjoy myself alone
when Spring is so close?
Yet if there were two of us,
yet if there were two of us,
it would all at once be Summer!

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:
"März" = "March"
"Es ist ein Schnee gefallen" = "The snow has fallen"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 76

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Frühling über's Jahr  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "Frühling über's Jahr", op. 12 (Fünf Lieder von Goethe) no. 2, published 1861 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Beet, schon lockert
Sich's in die Höh,
Da wanken Glöckchen
So weiß wie Schnee;
Safran entfaltet
Gewalt'ge Gluth,
Smaragden keimt es
Und keimt wie Blut.
Primeln stolzieren
So naseweis,
Schalkhafte Veilchen,
Versteckt mit Fleiß;
Was auch noch alles
Da regt und webt,
Genug, der Frühling,
Er wirkt und lebt.
 
Doch was im Garten
Am reichsten blüht,
Das ist des Liebchens
Lieblich Gemüth.
Da glühen Blicke
Mir immerfort,
Erregend Liedchen,
Erheiternd Wort.
Ein immer offen,
Ein Blüthenherz,
Im Ernste freundlich
Und rein im Scherz.
Wenn Ros' und Lilie
Der Sommer bringt,
Er doch vergebens
Mit Liebchen ringt.

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Confirmed with Goethe’s poetische und prosaische Werke in zwei Bänden, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen: Verlag der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1836, pages 19-20


by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Springtime throughout the year
Language: English 
The flowerbed is already
Being loosened [by burgeoning plants pushing] upward,
Little bells are swaying there,
As white as snow;
The crocus is unfurling
A powerful glow,
Emerald green it is sprouting
And sprouting blood-red.
Primroses parade
So pertly,
Roguish violets,
Assiduously concealed;
Whatever else as well is
Bestirring itself and burgeoning,
Enough! Springtime
Is active and alive.
 
But what in the garden
Blooms most richly
Is [my] beloved’s
Lovely spirit.
There glances glow
For me continuously,
A thrilling song,
A cheering word.
An ever-open,
A blossoming heart,
Friendly in seriousness
And pure in jest.
When summer brings
Roses and lilies,
It vies in vain
With my beloved.

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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This text was added to the website: 2015-11-26
Line count: 32
Word count: 108

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. War schöner, als der schönste Tag  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "War schöner, als der schönste Tag", op. 12 (Fünf Lieder von Goethe) no. 3, published 1861 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
War schöner als der schönste Tag,
Drum muß man mir verzeihen,
Daß ich sie nicht vergessen mag,
Am wenigsten im Freien.
Im Garten war's, sie trat heran,
Mir ihre Gunst zu zeigen;
Das fühl ich noch und denke dran
Und bleib ihr ganz zu eigen.

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Confirmed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Poetische Werke, Band 2, Berlin, 1960, page 106.


by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Song from Faust
Language: English 
She was prettier than the prettiest day,
and so one has to forgive me,
because I cannot forget her,
especially outdoors.

She came into the garden
to show her kindness;
I feel it still and think of it
and remain totally hers.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by J. Lee Riccardi, (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: 2007-11-07
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by J. Lee Riccardi
4. Dämmrung senkte sich von oben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "Dämmrung senkte sich von oben", op. 12 (Fünf Lieder von Goethe) no. 4, published 1861 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmrung senkte sich von oben,
Schon ist alle Nähe fern;
Doch zuerst emporgehoben
Holden Lichts der Abendstern!
Alles schwankt in's Ungewisse,
Nebel schleichen in die Höh';
Schwarzvertiefte Finsternisse
Widerspiegelnd ruht der See.

[Nun]1 [am]2 östlichen Bereiche
Ahn' ich Mondenglanz und Gluth,
Schlanker Weiden Haargezweige
Scherzen auf der nächsten Fluth.
Durch bewegter Schatten Spiele
Zittert Luna's Zauberschein,
Und durch's Auge [schleicht]3 die Kühle
Sänftigend in's Herz hinein.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke Stuttgart und Tübingen, Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1833, Band 47, page 52. Note: modern spelling would change "Gluth" to "Glut" and "Fluth" to "Flut".

1 Diepenbrock: "Dort,"
2 some recent editions of Goethe's work have "im"
3 Grimm: "zieht"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4.
Language: English 
Twilight sank from high above;
All that was near already is far,
Yet first is raised high
The fair light of the evening star!
Everything shakes with uncertainty,
A mist creeps slowly upward;
Darkness steeped in black
is reflected calmly in the sea.

Now in eastern areas
I feel the moon's brightness and glow,
Hair-like branches of slender willows
Play on the nearest tide.
Through the play of moving shadows
trembles Luna's magical shine,
And through my eyes creeps the cool air,
gently in toward my heart.

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: 87

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Im Sommer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Hermann Dietrich (1829 - 1908), "Im Sommer", op. 12 (Fünf Lieder von Goethe) no. 5, published 1861 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie Feld und Au
So blinkend im Thau!
Wie Perlen-schwer
Die Pflanzen umher!
[Wie durch den Hain
Die Lüfte so rein!]1
Wie laut, im hellen Sonnenstrahl,
Die süßen Vöglein allzumahl!

Ach! aber da,
Wo Liebchen ich sah,
Im Kämmerlein,
So nieder und klein,
So rings bedeckt,
Der Sonne versteckt --
Wo blieb die Erde weit und breit
Mit aller ihrer Herrlichkeit?

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Confirmed with Geschichte der deutschen Literatur mit ausgewählten Stücken aus den Werken der vorzüglichsten Schriftsteller von Heinrich Kurz, Zweiter Band, Fünfte Auflage, Leipzig, Druck und Verlag von B. G. Teubner, pages 544-545.

Modern German would change the following spellings: "Thau" -> "Tau", "allzumahl" -> "allzumal"

Note: Goethe mistakenly included this poem in his works in 1815. Several composers therefore attributed it erroneously to him (including Wolf and Franz). Referenced in Max Friedlaender's Das deutsche Lied im 18. Jahrhundert, Stuttgart: J. G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1902, reprint: Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1962.

1 Franz, Hauptmann, Nägeli, Felix Mendelssohn: "Wie durch's Gebüsch / Die Winde so frisch!"

sometimes misattributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) and by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814)
5. Summer song
Language: English 
Like field and meadow
Gleaming in the dew!
Heavy as pearls
Are the plants around!
And through the bushes
The wind is so fresh!
And loud in the bright sunbeam
Are the sweet small birds!
 
Oh, but there
Where my sweetheart I saw
In the little chamber
So lowly and small
Thus covered round about
Hidden from the sun
Where the earth remained far and broad
With all of its splendor!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by David Guess, (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: 2011-04-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 71

Translation © by David Guess