English translations of Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavier aus "Der wilde Jäger" von Wolff, opus 10

by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908)

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1. Ein Jäger ging zu birschen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908), "Ein Jäger ging zu birschen", op. 10 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavier aus "Der wilde Jäger" von Wolff) no. 1, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bahn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Jäger ging zu birschen
Durch Gras und grünen Klee,
Nicht Bär, nicht Luchs und Hirschen,
Ach! nur ein braunes Reh.
Das hatte blaue Äugelein,
Und wild war's allerdings
Und hatt' ein rothes Mündelein,
Und auf zwei Füßen ging's.

Das Lächeln seines Grußes,
Dem Jäger lag's im Sinn,
Die Fährte seines Fußes
Stand ihm im Herzen drin.
Wo schleichest du, mein Rehlein schlank?
Wo steckst du im Verhau?
Du knicktest ja in Schritt und Schrank
Kein Gräschen um im Thau.

So wank' ich denn und schweife,
Wohin mein Herz mich führt,
Ob nicht auf Such' und Streife
Die Liebe dich verspürt.
Dann werfe ich wie ein Geflecht
Um dich die Arme rund
Und geb' den Fang nach Jägerrecht
Dir auf den Rosenmund.

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Confirmed with Julius Wolff, Der wilde Jäger. Eine Waidmannsmär, Neunte unveränderte Auflage, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1880, page 74.


by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
1.
Language: English 
A hunter went a-stalking
Through grass and green clover,
[He was] not after bear, not lynx and stags,
Ah, [he was] only after a brown deer.
That deer had blue eyes,
And to be sure it was not tame
And had a red little mouth,
And walked upon two legs.

The smile of its greeting
Stayed in the hunter's mind,
The spoor of its feet
Was in his heart.
Where do you lurk, my slender little deer?
Where are you in the thick bushes?
When you are walking along, you 
Bend no grass in the dew.

Thus I totter and stray about,
Wherever my heart takes me,
To see if love could not find you out
In searching and patrolling.
Then I would throw my arms 
Round about you like a net
And upon your rosy lips I would
Give you the prize as per the right of hunters.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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:
"Ein Jäger ging zu birschen" = "A hunter went a-stalking"
"Jägerlied" = "Song of the hunter"
"Lied des Ludolf" = "Ludolf's song"
"Lied Ludolf's" = "Ludolf's song"
"Ludolf" = "Ludolf"



This text was added to the website: 2024-11-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 149

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Im Grase thaut's  [sung text not yet checked]
by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908), "Im Grase thaut's", op. 10 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavier aus "Der wilde Jäger" von Wolff) no. 2, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bahn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Grase thaut's, die Blumen träumen 
Von ihrem bunten Honigdieb,
Und oben flüstert's in den Bäumen:
Schläfst du? schläfst du, mein trautes Lieb? 
Der Mond scheint durch den grünen Wald.
 
Ein Aestlein wankt mit leisem Wiegen,
In dunkler Blätterheimlichkeit
Regt sich, ein Kosen, Schweben, Schmiegen: 
Dir treu, dir treu in Ewigkeit! 
Der Mond scheint durch den grünen Wald.

Nun wird es still in Luft und Zweigen,
Ein wonnig Athmen hebt die Brust,
Dich küßt die Nacht mit süßem Schweigen,
Ruh' aus, ruh' aus von Lieb' und Lust,
Der Mond scheint durch den grünen Wald.

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by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
2. Dew falls upon the grass
Language: English 
Dew falls upon the grass, the flowers are dreaming
Of their colourful honey thief,
And above in the trees there is a whispering:
Are you sleeping? are you sleeping, my dear love?
The moon shines through the green woods.
 
A little branch sways in quiet rocking,
In the dark secretiveness of the leaves
There stirs a caressing, wafting, nestling:
Faithful to you, faithful to you for all eternity!
The moon shines through the green woods.
 
Now quiet falls in the air and the branches,
A blissful breath lifts the bosom,
Night kisses you with sweet silence,
Rest, rest, from love and passion,
The moon shines through the green woods.

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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Translated titles:
"Der Mond scheint durch den grünen Wald" = "The moon shines through the green woods"
"Im Grase thaut's" = "Dew falls upon the grass"
"Im Grase thaut's, die Blumen träumen" = "Dew falls upon the grass, the flowers are dreaming"
"Frühlingsnacht" = "Spring night"


This text was added to the website: 2015-04-10
Line count: 15
Word count: 109

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ich ging im Wald durch Kraut und Gras  [sung text not yet checked]
by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908), "Ich ging im Wald durch Kraut und Gras", op. 10 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavier aus "Der wilde Jäger" von Wolff) no. 3, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bahn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich ging im Wald 
Durch [Kraut]1 und Gras
Und dachte dies
Und dachte das,
Da hört' ich es kommen und gehn, --
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch,
Da hat mich ein Jäger gesehn.

Hab' mich geduckt,
Durch's Laub gespäht
Und wollte fort,
Da war's zu spät,
Sein Hündlein kam spürend getrappt,
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch,
Da hat mich [ein]2 Jäger ertappt.

[Er frug, warum
Ich mich versteckt,
Ob er mir Furcht 
Und Angst erweckt]3,
Ich sagte: O, dass ich nicht wüsst'!
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch --
[Husch! hat]4 mich [ein]2 Jäger geküsst.

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1 Oehme: "Laub"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Wieninger: "der"
3 Greger: "Er fragte, ob / Er mich erschreckt, / Ob er mir Angst / Und Furcht erweckt."
4 Greger: "Da hat"

by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
3. Through herbs and grass in the forest I walked
Language: English 
In the forest I walked
Through [herbs]1 and grass,
Thinking of this,
Thinking of that,
Then I heard something coming and going, --
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
A huntsman espied me.
 
I crouched down,
Peered through the foliage,
And wanted to leave;
It was too late,
His little dog, scenting me, came trotting up,
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
A huntsman caught me.
 
[He asked me why
I had hidden myself,
If he scared me
Or made me fearful.]2
I said: Oh, not that I know!
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
[Whisht! a]3 huntsman kissed me.

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: 

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Translated titles:
"Husch, husch" = "Whisht, whisht"
"Ich ging im Wald durch Kraut und Gras" = "Through herbs and grass in the forest I walked"
"Husch! husch!" = "Whisht! whisht!"
"Ich ging im Wald" = "I walked in the forest"
"Jägerlied" = "Song of the huntsman"
"Husch, husch! hintern Busch" = "Whisht, whisht! behind the bush"
"Lied der Waldtraut" = "Song of Waldtraut"
"Gefunden" = "Found"
"Waldtrauts Lied" = "Waldtraut's song"

1 Oehme: "[fallen] leaves"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Greger: "He asked if / He had startled me, / If he had caused me / to be anxious or fearful."
3 Greger: "A"


This text was added to the website: 2015-03-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 99

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Glockenblumen, was läutet ihr?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908), "Glockenblumen, was läutet ihr?", op. 10 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavier aus "Der wilde Jäger" von Wolff) no. 4, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bahn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Glockenblumen, was läutet ihr?
Wer ist im Walde gestorben?
Oder wißt ihr, daß heimlich hier
Liebe um Liebe geworben?

Wißt ihr's, wohin auf dem einsamen [Gang]1
Schritt und Gedanken mir streben?
[Glocken]2, ich höre nicht euren Klang,
Seh' euch nur schwingen und schweben.

Lauschenden Blättern denn läutet es aus,
Klinget wie Harfen und Psalmen,
Meldet's im Grünen von Haus zu Haus
Bäumen und Büschen und Halmen.

Liebe macht selig wie nichts in der Welt,
Lachen [könnt']3 ich und weinen,
Glücklichste ich unterm Himmelszelt,
Blumen, -- ich liebe Einen!

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Confirmed with Der wilde Jäger. Eine Waidmannsmär von Julius Wolff, Berlin: G. Grote’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1889, page 67.

1 Greger: "Pfad"
2 Greger: "Blumen"
3 Greger: "möcht'"

by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
4.
Language: English 
Canterbury bells, why do you toll?
Who has died in the forest?
Or do you know that secretly here
Love wooed love?

Do you know whither on the solitary [walk]1
My steps and thoughts are striving?
[Bells]2, I do not hear your sound,
I only see you swinging and swaying.

Ring it out to the listening leaves,
Resound like harps and psalms,
Proclaim it in the greenery from house to house
To trees and bushes and grass blades.

Love makes one happy like nothing else in the world,
I [could]3 laugh and weep,
I am the happiest under the canopy of heaven,
Flowers, -- I love Someone!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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:

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View original text (without footnotes)
Translated titles:
"Glockenblumen, was läutet ihr?" = "Canterbury bells, why do you toll?"
"Waldtrauts Lied" = "Waldtraut’s Song"
"Glockenblumen" = "Canterbury bells"
1 Greger: "pathway"
2 Greger: "Flowers"
3 Greger: "would like to"


This text was added to the website: 2014-12-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

Translation © by Sharon Krebs