Six German songs for voice, clarinet, and piano

 I once harbored hope deep in my breast
 Which, trusting, unlocked to her;
 My eyes were radiant with joie de vivre
 While her magic encircled me.
 But when I harkened to her beguiling voice
 The echo died away in the storm.
 Be still, my heart, and give it no thought:
 This now is reality, the rest was delusion.
 
 Earth lay before me in a spring dream
 Suffused with warmth and light,
 And drunk with joy I wafted through space,
 Blossoms burst forth from my breast;
 Love's springtime awakened in me.
 Now frost shudders through me; in my soul it is night.
 Be still, my heart, and give it no thought:
 This now is reality, the rest was delusion.
 
 Out of sunshine and flowers I built myself
 A bridge through life
 Passing over which, laurel-crowned,
 I devoted myself to the noblest of strivings.
 Man's gratitude was my finest reward;
 The crowd laughs aloud now with impudent scorn.
 Be still, my heart, and give it no thought:
 This now is reality, the rest was delusion.

In the lilac bush a little bird sat
In the quiet, lovely May night;
Below, a maiden [sat] in the high grass
In the quiet, lovely May night.
When the maiden sang, the little bird was quiet,
When the little bird sang, the maiden listened,
  And over a long distance rang out
  Their duet
Alongside the moon-bright valley.
 
What was the little bird singing in the branches
Through the quiet, lovely May night?
For that matter, what was the maiden singing
Through the quiet, lovely May night?
Of the spring's sun [sang] the little bird,
Of the splendor of love [sang] the maiden.
   How that song
   Exhilarated my heart,
I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I look in my heart and I look at the world
Till out of my [burning]1 eyes a tear falls.
Though the distance glows with golden light,
The north wind tells me I shall not reach it.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world, 
And how fleeting is time!

I know a land where in sun-filled greenery
Grapes gleam among sunken temples,
Where the purple wave covers the shore with foam
And laurels dream of singers to come.
It lures from afar and beckons my longing soul,
And I cannot go there!

If I had wings to fly through the blue
How I would wish to bathe in sun's fragrance!
But in vain! Hour flees upon hour;
Pass your youth in mourning, bury your song.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world
And how fleeting is time!

 All is still in sweet repose,
 Therefore, my child, you, too, must sleep.
 Outside is but the rustle of the wind,
 Sh, sh, sh, go to sleep, my child.
 
 Close your little eyes,
 Let them be two little buds.
 Tomorrow when the sun shines,
 They will blossom like flowers.
 
 And I gaze at the little flowers,
 And I kiss the little eyes,
 And a mother's heart forgets
 That it is spring outside.

There are secret pains
Whose lament is never tongued;
Borne deep in the heart
They are unknown to the world.
There is a secret longing
That always shies from the light;
There are hidden tears
A stranger does not see.
 
There is a quiet sinking
Into an inner world
Where peaceful meadows beckon,
Lit by the gleam of stars,
Where, all boundaries fallen,
The soul raises Heaven
And with jubilation
Confides its thoughts to the lips.
 
There is a quiet passing
Into silent, desolate pain,
And no one is allowed to see
That heavy-pressed heart.
It does not say what it needs,
And though it breaks with grief,
Tortured to death and bleeding,
The stranger does not see it.
 
There is a gentle slumber
Where sweet peace abides,
Where quiet rest heals the cares
Of the weary soul.
There is yet a lovely hoping
That soars above all worlds,
Where, open to another heart,
The heart lies filled with love.

Why do you stand there 
brooding with fear?
Ah, so long 
does love stay awake!

Do you hear the ringing 
all around?
The birds are singing 
with such sweet sounds.

Soft leaves are sprouting 
from the rigid branches,
Life is flowing 
through bough and twig.

Little drops are gliding 
from the forest hollows,
The brook leaps 
with abundant strength.

The heavens bow 
towards the clear waves,
The blueness 
is wondrously revealed,

A bright flourish 
of shape and sound,
An endless yielding 
to endless impulse.

Why do you stand there 
brooding [with fear]1?
Ah, so long 
does love stay awake!