by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
Translation © by David K. Smythe

Liebesgarten
 (Sung text for setting by R. Schumann)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
  Die Liebe ist ein Rosenstrauch.
      Wo blüht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten,
Darin wir zwei, mein Lieb und ich,
Getreulich seiner warten,
wofür er uns aus Dankbarkeit
Alltäglich neue Blumen streut;
Und wenn im Himmel Rosen blühn,
Sie können doch nicht schöner blühn.

  Die Liebe ist ein klarer Bach.
      Wo zieht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten.
So viele Wellen, so viel Lust
Und Freuden aller Arten;
Auch spiegelt er die Welt umher,
Als ob sie noch viel schöner wär';
Drauf fahren wir so lustig hin,
Wie Vöglein durch den Himmel ziehn.

  Die Liebe ist ein heller Stern.
      Wo glüht er?
Ei nun, in unserm Garten.
Ach, Liebchen, sprich, was läßt du mich
Doch oft so lange warten?
Denn seh' ich dich nicht alle Stund,
Des Sternes Glut mein Herz verbrennt;
Doch kommst du, steigt er mild herauf,
Als geht im Mai die Sonne auf.

Note for stanza 3, line 1, word 5: in some editions of Schumann, "holder" appears instead of "heller".

Composition:

    Set to music by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Liebesgarten", op. 34 no. 1 (1840), published 1841 [ vocal duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Klemm

Text Authorship:

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
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Tuin der liefde", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (David K. Smythe) , "Love's Garden", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Jardin d'amour", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Margo Briessinck

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 151

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 Love is a rose bush. 
 Where does it bloom? 
 There now, in our garden, 
 wherein we two, my love and I,
 stay each true to his own, 
 for which in gratitude it
 daily strews new flowers for us.
 And if in heaven roses bloom,
 yet they could not bloom more beautiful.
 
 Love is a clear stream. 
 Where does it flow? 
 There now, in our garden.
 So many waves, so much pleasure
 and all kinds of joy;
 also it mirrors the world around, 
 as though it were even much fairer.
 On it we sail away so happy, 
 as birds fly through the sky.
 
 Love is a shining star. 
 Where does it shine? 
 There now, in our garden.
 O darling tell me, for what do you let me
 often wait so long? 
 For if I do not see you all hours,
 the glow of the star burns my heart; 
 but then you come, it soars gently, 
 as the sun rises in May.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 161