O schwöre nicht und küsse nur,
Ich glaube keinem Weiberschwur!
Dein Wort ist süß, doch süßer ist
Der Kuß, den ich dir abgeküßt!
Den hab ich, und dran glaub ich auch,
Das Wort ist eitel Dunst und Hauch.
O schwöre, Liebchen, immerfort,
Ich glaube dir aufs bloße Wort!
An deinem Busen sink ich hin,
Und glaube, daß ich selig bin;
Ich glaube, Liebchen, ewiglich,
Und noch viel länger, liebst du mich.
Composition:
Set to music by Johann Rufinatscha (1812 - 1893), "O schwöre nicht!", op. 2 [ voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John Todhunter) , appears in Heine's Book of Songs, first published 1907
- ENG English (Will Crutchfield) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Charles Beltjens) , no title, appears in Intermezzo lyrique, no. 13, first published 1827
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Pierre Mathé
[Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2008-04-02
Line count: 12
Word count: 72
Oh, do not swear, and only kiss,
I don’t believe any woman’s oaths!
Your word is sweet, but sweeter
Is the kiss I’ve kissed from you!
That I have, and so I believe in it;
The word is idle vapor and breath.
Oh, dearest, go ahead and swear!
I believe you word for word.
I sink down on your breast,
And believe that I am happy.
I believe, darling, that you’ll love me
Eternally, and far longer still!
