Wie sehr ich dein, soll ich dir sagen?
Ich weiß es nicht und will nicht fragen:
Mein Herz behalte seine Kunde,
Wie [tief]1 es dein im Grunde.

O still! ich möchte sonst erschrecken,
Könnt' ich die Stelle nicht entdecken,
Die unzerstört für Gott verbliebe
Beim Tode deiner Liebe.

How very much I am yours - should I tell you?
I do not know and do not even wish to ask:
My heart guards the secret
Of just how deep its love is for you.

Oh hush! for I would be terrified
If I could not find a place [in my heart]
That would remain intact for God alone,
If your own love were to die.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Frage nicht", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Viertes Buch, in Liebesklänge
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Translation of title "Frage nicht" = "Do not ask"

This text was added to the website: 2015-11-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 66

  Hörst du nicht die Quellen gehen
Zwischen Stein und Blumen weit
Nach den stillen Waldesseen,
Wo die Marmorbilder stehen
In der schönen Einsamkeit?
Von den Bergen sacht hernieder,
Weckend die uralten Lieder,
Steigt die wunderbare Nacht,
Und die Gründe glänzen wieder,
Wie du's oft im Traum gedacht.

  Kennst die Blume du, entsprossen
In dem mondbeglänzten Grund?
Aus der Knospe, halb erschlossen,
Junge Glieder blühend sprossen,
Weiße Arme, roter Mund,
Und die Nachtigallen schlagen,
Und rings hebt es an zu klagen,
Ach, vor Liebe todeswund,
Von versunknen schönen Tagen --
Komm, o komm zum stillen Grund!

Do you not hear the spring running
between the stones and flowers far
toward the quiet wood lakes,
where the marble statues stand
in fine solitude?
From the mountains, gently
awakening ancient songs,
the wondrous night descends
and the earth gleams again
as you often see in a dream.

Do you know the flower that blooms
in the moonlit land,
from whose buds, half-open,
young limbs bloom with
white arms and red mouth?
And the nightingale sings,
and all around, a lament is raised;
alas, wounded fatally by love,
by lovely days now gone forever -
come, o come to the silent land!

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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Nachtzauber", written 1853, appears in Gedichte, in 4. Frühling und Liebe
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Translation of title "Nachtzauber" = "Night magic"

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 102

Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen,
Liebestränen, [schmerzenmild]1,
Und ich fürchte, dieses Sehnen
Wird am Ende noch erfüllt.

Ach, der Liebe süßes Elend
Und der Liebe bittre Lust
Schleicht sich wieder, himmlisch quälend,
In die kaum genes'ne Brust.

Ah, I yearn for tears,
Tears of love, gently painful,
And I fear that this yearning
Shall in the end be fulfilled.
 
Ah, the sweet misery of love
And the bitter joy of love
Creeps once again with heavenly torture
Into the barely recovered breast.

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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Neuer Frühling, no. 12
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Translated titles:
"Erfüllte Ahnung" = "Fulfilled premonition"
"Sehnen" = "Yearning"
"Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen" = "Ah, I yearn for tears"
"Süßes Elend, bitt're Lust" = "Sweet misery, bitter joy"
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"

This text was added to the website: 2015-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Ich hatte einst ein schönes Vaterland. 
Der Eichenbaum 
Wuchs dort so hoch, die Veilchen nickten sanft. 
Es war ein Traum. 

Das küßte mich auf deutsch, und sprach auf deutsch 
(Man glaubt es kaum,
Wie gut es klang) das Wort: "ich liebe dich!" 
Es war ein Traum.

 Once I had a wonderful homeland.
 The oak grew there so high,
 and the violets nodded kindly.
 It was a dream.
 
 There I was kissed in German, and was told in German
 (one can hardly believe how good it sounded)
 the words: "I love you!"
 It was a dream.

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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Verschiedene, in In der Fremde, no. 3
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 50