Six Poems of Goethe

  An dem [reinsten]1 Frühlingsmorgen
Gieng die Schäferin und sang,
Jung und schön und ohne Sorgen,
Daß es durch die Felder [klang]2,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Thyrsis bot ihr für ein Mäulchen
[Zwei,]3 drei Schäfchen gleich am Ort,
[Schalkhaft blickte sie]4 ein Weilchen;
Doch sie sang und lachte fort,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Und ein Andrer bot ihr Bänder,
Und der Dritte bot sein Herz;
Doch sie trieb mit Herz und Bändern
So wie mit den Lämmern Scherz,
Nur la la! le ralla.

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Spröde" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , no title, copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Thomas A. Gregg) , "The coy shepherdess", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Revêche", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La ritrosa", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• RUS Russian (Русский) (Natalia Vyshynska) , "Неприступная", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Goethes Sämmtliche Werke: Vollständige Ausgabe in zehn Bänden, Erster Band, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta’schen Buchhandlung, 1875, pages 6-7. Note: modernized spelling would change "Gieng" to "Ging".

¹ Cimarosa: "schönsten"
² Cimarosa: "drang"
³ Cimarosa: "Da"
⁴ Cimarosa: "Sie besann sich nur"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

  On the [purest]1 of spring mornings
The shepherdess walked along singing,
Young and beautiful and free of care,
[Singing] so that [it rang]2 through the fields,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Thyrsis offered her for a little kiss
[Two,]3 three little sheep on the spot,
[She looked at him roguishly]4 for a little while;
But she continued to sing and laugh,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  And another chap offered her ribbons,
And a third one offered his heart;
But she made fun of heart and ribbons
As she had with the lambs,
Only la la! le ralla.

Bei dem Glanz der Abendröthe
Ging ich still den Wald entlang,
Damon saß und blies die Flöte,
Daß es von den Felsen klang,
So la la! . . .

Und er zog mich [zu]1 sich nieder,
Küßte mich so [hold, so]2 süß.
Und ich sagte: blase wieder!
Und der gute Junge blies,
So la la! . . .

Meine [Ruh]3 ist nun verloren,
Meine Freude floh davon,
Und ich [hör']4 vor meinen Ohren
Immer nur den alten Ton,
So la la, le ralla! . . .

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Bekehrte", written 1796, first published 1797 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La convertida", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The woman converted", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English [singable] (Paul England) , no title
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Convertie", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• GER German (Deutsch) [an adaptation]
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La convertita", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sämmtliche Werke, Volume 1, Stuttgart und Tübingen, J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1854, p. 5.

¹ Medtner: "an"
² Medtner: "hold und"
³ Medtner: "Ruhe"
⁴ Medtner: "höre"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

In the radiance of the sunset glow
I walked quietly along the forest,
Damon sat and played his flute
So that it rang from the rocky cliffs,
So la la! . . .
 
And he drew me down [to him]1,
Kissed me so [beautifully, so]2 sweetly,
And I said: play again!
And the good lad played,
So la la! . . .
 
My peace is now lost,
My joy has flown away,
And in my ears I hear
Always only the old sound,
So la la, le ralla! . . .

Die ihr Felsen und Bäume bewohnt, o heilsame Nymphen,
Gebet Jeglichem gern, was er im stillen begehrt!
Schaffet dem Traurigen Trost, dem Zweifelhaften Belehrung,
Und dem Liebenden gönnt, daß ihm begegne sein Glück.
Denn euch gaben die Götter, was sie den Menschen versagten,
Jeglichem, der euch vertraut, [tröstlich und hilfreich]1 zu sein.

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Einsamkeit" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Solitud", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Solitude", copyright ©
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Solitude", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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¹ Medtner: "hilfreich und tröstlich"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

 You who dwell in rocks and trees, o salutary nymphs,
 grant gladly to each what he silently desires!
 Create solace for the grieving, give instruction to the uncertain,
 and to the lover grant that he might meet happiness.
 For the gods gave you what they denied to men:
 to be a comfort and an aid to all who trust you.

Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Weiß, was ich leide!
Allein und abgetrennt
Von aller Freude
[Seh]1 ich an's Firmament
Nach [jener]2 Seite.
[Ach, der]3 mich liebt und kennt,
Ist in der Weite.
Es [schwindelt]4 mir, es brennt
Mein Eingeweide.
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Weiß, was ich leide!

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mignon", written 1785, appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, first published 1795 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jan Evangelista Nečas) , "Táž"
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Slechts wie de hunk'ring kent", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Lawrence Snyder) , no title, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English [singable] (David Paley) , "Only my yearning shows", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• IRI Irish (Gaelic) [singable] (Gabriel Rosenstock) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Solo chi conosce la nostalgia", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Paolo Montanari) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• POR Portuguese (Português) (Ana Vargas) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• SPA Spanish (Español) (Mercedes Vivas) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• TUR Turkish (Türkçe) (Gül Sabar) , copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Zweyter Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 118; and with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Neunzehnter Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1828, page 67.

First published in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Ein Roman. Herausgegeben von Goethe. Zweyter Band. Berlin. Bei Johann Friedrich Unger. 1795, pages 265-266. The poem appears in Book 4, Chapter 11 of Goethe's novel.

¹ Schubert (D. 310, first version): "Blick"
² Lang: "jeder"
³ Goethe (only in the novel, not in editions of the poems): "Ach! der"; Zelter: "Ach, die"
⁴ Goethe (only in editions of the novel later than 1815, not in editions of the poems): "schwindet"

Research team for this text: Lawrence Snyder , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

Only one who knows longing
Knows what I suffer!
Alone and cut off
From all joy,
I look into the firmament
In that direction.
Ah! he who loves and knows me
Is far away.
I am reeling,
My entrails are burning.
Only one who knows longing
Knows what I suffer!

Ein Veilchen auf der Wiese stand,
Gebückt in sich und unbekannt;
Es war ein herzigs Veilchen.
[Da]1 kam [eine]2 junge Schäferin
Mit leichtem [Schritt]3 und muntrem Sinn
Daher, daher,
Die Wiese her, und sang.

Ach! denkt das Veilchen, wär ich nur
Die schönste Blume der Natur,
Ach, nur ein kleines Weilchen,
Bis mich das Liebchen abgepflückt
Und an dem Busen matt gedrückt!
Ach nur, ach nur
Ein Viertelstündchen lang!

Ach! aber ach! das Mädchen kam
Und nicht in Acht das Veilchen nahm,
[Ertrat]4 das arme Veilchen.
Es sank und starb und freut' sich noch:
Und sterb' ich denn, so sterb' ich doch
Durch sie, durch sie,
Zu ihren Füßen doch.

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Das Veilchen", appears in Erwin und Elmire [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Het viooltje", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Walter Meyer) , "A violet stood upon the lea", copyright © 1996, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English [singable] (Leon Malinofsky) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La violette", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "La violetta", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• NOR Norwegian (Bokmål) (Marianne Beate Kielland) , "Fiolen", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "Una pequeña violeta vivía sobre la pradera", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Note for Stanza 1, line 5: "muntrem" is often modernized to "munterm"

¹ omitted by Štěpán.
² Mozart: " ein' "
³ Medtner: "Tritt"
⁴ Kunzen: "Zertrat"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

A violet stood upon the lea,
Hunched o'er in anonymity;
So amiable a violet!
Along there came a young shepherdess
Light paced, full of contentedness
Along, along,
The lea, and sang her song.

Ah!" thinks the violet, "were I just
The fairest flower in the dust
For just a little while yet,
Until that darling seizes me
And to her bosom squeezes me!
For just, for just
A quarter hour long!"

Ah! And alas!  There came the maid
And no heed to the violet paid,
Crushed the poor little violet.
It sank and died, yet filled with pride:
And though I die, I shall have died
Through her, through her,
And at her feet have died."

Im [Felde]1 [schleich']2 ich still und wild,
Gespannt mein Feuerrohr.
Da schwebt so licht dein liebes Bild
Dein süßes Bild mir vor.

Du wandelst jetzt wohl still und mild
Durch Feld und liebes Thal,
Und ach mein schnell verrauschend Bild
Stellt sich dir's nicht einmal?

Des Menschen, der die Welt durchstreift
Voll Unmuth und Verdruß,
Nach Osten und nach Westen schweift,
Weil er dich lassen muß.

Mir ist es, denk' ich nur an dich,
Als in den Mond zu sehn;
Ein stiller Friede kommt auf mich,
Weiß nicht wie mir geschehn.

Authorship

• by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Jägers Abendlied", written 1775-6, first published 1776 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Avondlied van de jager", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild", copyright ©
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chant vespéral du chasseur", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 110.

First anonymously published in Christoph Martin Wieland's Der Teutsche Merkur vom Jahr 1776. Erstes Vierteljahr. Weimar, pages 8-9, with the title Jägers Nachtlied, see below.

¹ Franke, Weber: "Walde"; further changes may exist for Franke not shown above
² Andersch: "schweif' " ; Gompertz: "streich' " ; further changes may exist not shown above.

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

 In the fields I creep, silent and wild,
 my gun cocked.
 There floats so lightly your dear image,
 your sweet image before me.
 
 You wander now so mute and gentle
 through field and dear valley;
 and ah! my swiftly passing image,
 does it not once appear before you?
 
 ...the image of a man who prowls through the world,
 full of indignance and annoyance,
 wandering from east to west
 because he must leave you?
 
 If I only think of you, it seems to me
 that I'm looking at the moon:
 a still peace comes over me,
 and I do not know how it happens.