by Otto Inkermann (1823 - 1862), as C. O. Sternau
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Auf den schimmernden Lagunen
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Auf den schimmernden Lagunen
Wiegt der Kahn sich mit dem Schiffer,
Tändelnd bald und bald sich bäumend
In des Wassers Wellenspiele;
Da ertönt das Lied der Lieder
Zu der weichen Mandoline,
Jedes Lüftchen giebt es wieder:
"Non son rose senza spine."

  Hat der Schiffer in der Gondel
Seine schönste Last geladen,
Rudert er mit kräft'gen Armen
Durch die Wellen die Madonna;
Dann ergreift ihn süßes Bangen,
Und er singt mit ernster Miene
Leise Thränen auf den Wangen:
"Non son rose senza spine."

  Hebt er schweigend die Madonna
Aus der Gondel, und verschwindet
Sie im schimmernden Palaste,
Keinen Gruß dem Schiffer flüsternd,
Dann besteigt er seinen Nachen,
Singt zur weichen Mandoline 
Lang' in träumerischem Wachen:
"Non son rose senza spine."

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Gumbert •   V. Lachner 

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Confirmed with Deutsche Lieder von C. O. Sternau, Köln: Welter's Buchhandlung (Bäumer & Stienen), 1846, pages 40-41.


Text Authorship:

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2008-10-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 122

Upon the shimmering lagoons
NOTE: the footnotes have been removed from this text; return to general view
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  Upon the shimmering lagoons
The barque is rocking with its boatman,
At times trifling and at times rearing up
In the play of the water's waves;
Then the song of songs rings out
To the soft tones of his mandolin,
Every little breeze echoes it:
"There are no roses without thorns."

  When the gondolier has taken
His loveliest burden into the gondola,
With powerful arms he rows
The Madonna through the waves;
Then he is gripped by sweet anxiety,
And, quiet tears upon his cheeks,
With solemn mien he sings:
"There are no roses without thorns."

  When silently he lifts the Madonna
From the gondola, and when she vanishes
Into the shimmering palazzo,
Whispering no greeting to the boatman,
Then he boards his barque,
And for a long time in his dreamy watches 
He sings to the soft tones of his mandolin:
"There are no roses without thorns."

About the headline (FAQ)

View text with all available footnotes

Translations of titles:
"Gondoliera (Keine Rosen ohne Dornen)" = "Gondoliera (No roses without thorns)"
"Keine Rosen ohne Dornen" = "No roses without thorns"
"Non son rose senza (Keine Rosen ohne Dornen)" = "Non son rose senza (There are no roses without thorns)"
"Non son rose senza spine" = "There are no roses without thorns"


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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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Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2026-01-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 150