A good spirit | LiederNet

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by Karl Joachim ("Achim") Friedrich Ludwig von Arnim (1781 - 1831)

Translation © by Amy Pfrimmer

Ein recht Gemüt

(Sung text for setting by L. Reichardt)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG ENG

Ein recht Gemüt
Springt mit den Nachtigallen
Auf manche Blüt,
Und freuet sich an allen!
Von einem Zweig
Will manche einzeln schallen,
Nicht all zu gleich
Wie Saat der Menschen wallen.

Doch was vermag
Ein wallend Herz zu stören?
Nicht Trommelschlag!
Zum Trotz sie schlägt in Chören.
Nicht Kukussic Ruf,
Von Kindern oft befraget,
Kein Schlag vom Huf,
Der über Wiesen jaget.

Nichts störet sie,
Nur heller muß sie singen,
Da höret sie
Den Widerhall erklingen;
Ist voll das Herz,
So geht der Mund wohl über,
Und Lust und Schmerz,
Wird da unendlich lieber.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Composition:

Luise Reichardt

Text Authorship:

by Karl Joachim ("Achim") Friedrich Ludwig von Arnim (1781 - 1831), "Kritik"

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Amy Pfrimmer) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 133

A good spirit

(Sung text translation for setting by L. Reichardt)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

A good spirit 
flits with the nightingales 
to many blossoms, 
and rejoices in all of them.
From one branch 
some wish to sing alone, 
not unlike 
how people sow seeds. 

But what can disturb 
a surging heart? 
Not the beating of a drum!
In spite, it beats in a chorus; 
Not the cuckoo’s call 
that children often ask for: 
Not the blow of hooves, 
shooting across the meadows.

Nothing disturbs her, 
she must only sing more brightly, 
and she will hear 
the resounding echo. 
If the heart is full, 
then the mouth overflows with beautiful words as well,
and pleasure and pain 
are infinitely dear.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Note: this is a translation of L. Reichardt's version.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Amy Pfrimmer, (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 Karl Joachim ("Achim") Friedrich Ludwig von Arnim (1781 - 1831), "Kritik"
- Go to the text page.

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This text was added to the website: 2019-07-08
Line count: 27
Word count: 107