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Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken,
Rauscht der Nachtwind, teure Frau!
Leise in das Marmorbecken
Gießt der Brunnen seinen Tau.
Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend,
Kreise neben Kreise zieht,
Also zittert, leise klopfend,
Mir das Herz bei diesem Lied.
Schwingt euch, Töne meiner Zither,
Schwingt euch aufwärts, flügelleicht;
Durch das rebumkränzte Gitter
In der Schönen Kammer schleicht.
»Ist denn, liebliche Dolores«,
Also singt in ihren Traum -
»In der Muschel deines Ohres
Für kein Perlenwörtchen Raum?
...
O dem Freund nur eine Stunde,
Wo dein Arm ihn heiß umschlingt,
Und der Kuß von deinem Munde
Feurig bis ans Herz ihm dringt!
Hast du ihn so ganz vergessen?
Einsam harrt er am Balkon,
Überm Wipfel der Zypressen
Bleicht des Mondes Sichel schon.
Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend,
Kreise neben Kreise zieht,
Also zittert, leise klopfend,
Ihm das Herz bei diesem Lied.«
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4,7-9 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Serenade", op. 58 no. 8, published 1872, stanzas 1-4,7-9 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Text Authorship:
- by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), "Serenade", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Aus allen Zonen
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Serenade", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright © 1998
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sérénade", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 177
Gently, so as not to awaken you,
Rustles the night wind, dear woman!
Quietly into the marble basin
The fountain pours its dew.
As the water, dripping down,
Draws circle after circle,
So, gently pounding, does my heart
Tremble at this song.
Vibrate, o sounds of my zither,
Float upwards, on light wings;
Through the vine-wreathed lattice
Slip into my darling's boudoir.
"Is there then, my lovely Dolores,"
sing to her in her dream -
"In the mussel-shell of your ears,
Is there no room for pearl-like little words?
...
O give your friend just one hour,
When your arms enfold him warmly,
And a kiss from your mouth
Pierces his heart like fire!
Have you so completely forgotten him?
Alone, he awaits you on the balcony;
Over the tops of the cypresses
The sickle-moon is already turning pale.
As the water, dripping down,
Draws circle after circle,
So, gently pounding, does his heart
Tremble at this song.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4,7-9 of the original text.
Translations of titles:
"Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken" = "Gently, so as not to awaken you"
"Serenade" = "Serenade"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1998 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), "Serenade", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Aus allen Zonen
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 203