Six Poems of Goethe

Song Cycle by Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (1880 - 1951)

View original-language texts alone: Sechs Gedichte von Goethe

1. Die Spröde
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  An dem reinsten Frühlingsmorgen
Gieng die Schäferin und sang,
Jung und schön und ohne Sorgen,
Daß es durch die Felder klang,
So la la! le ralla.
 
  Thyrsis bot ihr für ein Mäulchen
Zwei, drei Schäfchen gleich am Ort,
Schalkhaft blickte sie 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.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1.
Language: English 
  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.

Text 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.
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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]"

1 Cimarosa: "most beautiful"
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: 103

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die Bekehrte
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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 an sich nieder,
Küßte mich so hold und süß.
Und ich sagte: blase wieder!
Und der gute Junge blies,
So la la! . . .

Meine Ruhe ist nun verloren,
Meine Freude floh davon,
Und ich höre vor meinen Ohren
Immer nur den alten Ton,
So la la, le ralla! . . .

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. The woman converted
Language: English 
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! . . .

Text 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.
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1 Medtner: "against himself"
2 Medtner: "beautifully and"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-01
Line count: 15
Word count: 94

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Einsamkeit
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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, hilfreich und tröstlich zu sein.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Solitude
Language: English 
 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.

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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Mignon
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Weiß, was ich leide!
Allein und abgetrennt
Von aller Freude
Seh ich an's Firmament
Nach jener Seite.
Ach, der mich liebt und kennt,
Ist in der Weite.
Es schwindelt mir, es brennt
Mein Eingeweide.
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Weiß, was ich leide!

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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.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4.
Language: English 
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!

Text 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 50

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
5. Das Veilchen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Veilchen auf der Wiese stand,
Gebückt in sich und unbekannt;
Es war ein herzigs Veilchen.
Da kam eine junge Schäferin
Mit leichtem Tritt 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 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.

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

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. A violet stood upon the lea
Language: English 
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."

Text 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.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 116

Translation © by Walter Meyer
6. Jägers Abendlied  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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]3,
Und ach mein schnell verrauschend Bild
Stellt [sich dir's]4 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.

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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.

Note: the poem was published first anonymously 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 not shown above
2 Andersch: "schweif'" ; Gompertz: "streich'" ; further changes may exist not shown above.
3 Dalberg: "Durchs Feld und liebe Thal"
4 Hensel: "sich's dir"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
6. In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild
Language: English 
 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.

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 104

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Вечерняя песнь охотника
 (Sung text)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
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.

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Singable translation by O. Karatyginaya
6.
[Translation not yet available]