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Six Poems of Goethe
Song Cycle by Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (1880 - 1951)
View original-language texts alone: Sechs Gedichte von 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"
See other settings of this text.
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
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".
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.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Spröde"
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Die Spröde" = "The aloof [shepherdess]"
"An dem reinstem Frühlingsmorgen" = "On the purest of spring mornings"
"Die Spröde und die Bekehrte" = "The aloof and the repentant [shepherdess]"
2 Cimarosa: "the song penetrated"
3 Cimarosa: "There"
4 Cimarosa: "She only thought about it"
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-30
Line count: 15
Word count: 99
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
See other settings of this text.
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
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! . . .
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Bekehrte", written 1796, first published 1797
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 Medtner: "against himself"
2 Medtner: "beautifully and"
This text was added to the website: 2016-02-01
Line count: 15
Word count: 91
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"
See other settings of this text.
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
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.
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 -- https://www.lieder.net/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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Einsamkeit"
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 61
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]4, Ist in der Weite. Es [schwindelt]5 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
See other settings of this text.
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
- NOR Norwegian (Bokmål) (Marianne Beate Kielland) , copyright © 2023, (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
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 omitted by Zeisl.
5 Goethe (only in editions of the novel later than 1815, not in editions of the poems): "schwindet"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Lawrence Snyder , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
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!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mignon", written 1785, appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, first published 1795
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 50
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
See other settings of this text.
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
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."
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Das Veilchen", appears in Erwin und Elmire
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 116
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]3 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
See other settings of this text.
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
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 above2 Andersch: "schweif' " ; Gompertz: "streich' " ; further changes may exist not shown above.
3 Hensel: "sich's dir"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
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.
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 -- https://www.lieder.net/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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Jägers Abendlied", written 1775-6, first published 1776
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 104
Когда с ружьем в тиши полей Брожу я, мрачен, дик, В мечтах моих весны светлей Сияет мне твой лик. А ты идешь долиной той, Твой взор так кроток, тих, И, ах, вставал ли пред тобой Образ мой хоть на миг? Того, кто бурный, как поток, Несется, вдаль стремясь, На запад он и на восток Мчится, с тобой простясь. Чуть встанет в сердце образ твой, - Тихо и так светло… Мне словно месяц в час ночной Кротко взглянул в лицо.
Show a transliteration: Default | DIN | GOST
Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- Singable translation by O. Karatyginaya
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Jägers Abendlied", written 1775-6, first published 1776
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]