Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Sie konnte mir kein Wörtchen sagen,
Zu viele Lauscher waren wach,
Den Blick nur durft ich schüchtern fragen,
Und wohl verstand ich, was er sprach.
Leis komm' ich her in deine Stille,
Du schön belaubtes Buchenzelt,
Verbirg in deiner grünen Hülle
Die Liebenden dem Aug' der Welt!
...
Daß ja die Menschen nie es hören,
Wie treue Lieb' uns still beglückt!
Sie können nur die Freude stöhren,
Weil Freude nie sie selbst, nie entzückt.
Die Welt wird nie das Glück erlauben,
Als Beute wird es nur gehascht,
Entwenden mußt du's oder rauben,
Eh die Mißgunst uns überrascht.
Leis auf den Zähen kommt's geschlichen,
Die Stille liebt es und die Nacht,
Mit schnellen Füßen ist's entwichen,
Wo des Verräthers Auge wacht.
O schlinge dich, du sanfte Quelle,
Ein breiter Strom um uns herum,
Und drohend mit empörter Welle
Vertheidige dieß Heiligthum.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,4 of the original text.
See also Zelter's Im Garten which uses some pieces from this poem.
Composition:
- Set to music by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Das Geheimnis", op. 7 no. 2, published c1850, stanzas 1,3,4 [ high voice and piano ], Magdeburg: Heinrichshofen
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Das Geheimniß", written 1797, first published 1798
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El secret", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , no title, copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le secret", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Ulrich Eisenlohr , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Peter Rastl [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 190
She couldn't even say the smallest word to me,
Too many listeners were paying attention;
I could only shyly question her look,
And I clearly understood what that was saying.
I have come here softly into your silence,
You beautifully leaved tent of beech trees,
In your green covering, hide
The lovers from the eyes of the world!
...
Let us hope that other people will never hear
How secretly happy we are made by devoted love!
They can only disturb the joy
Since they have never been delighted by joy themselves.
The world will never permit happiness,
It will just be hunted as prey,
You will have to steal it or commit robbery,
Before you are overtaken by envy.
It slips in gently on tiptoe,
It loves quietness and the night,
It runs off on quick feet,
Wherever a traitor's eye is keeping watch.
Oh gentle fountain, throw out
A wide stream around us,
And threatening with rising waves,
Defend this sanctuary.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,4 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Malcolm Wren, (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 Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805), "Das Geheimniß", written 1797, first published 1798
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-29
Line count: 32
Word count: 216