Ob ich ein Herz im Busen hätte
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Ob ich ein Herz im Busen hätte,
Das mild, wie eine Rosenkette,
Sich schläng' um fremdes Wohl und Weh?
Ob Thränen je dies Auge tränkten,
Ob diese Lippen Küsse schenkten?
Ob? fragst du, Mädchen? - Ei - per se!
Ob ich der Sehnsucht leises Beben,
Ob ich der Brust verstohl'nes Heben,
Ob ich der Blicke Blitz versteh'?
Ob mir's die Seele nicht durchzucke
Bei warmer Hände warmen Drucke?
Ob? fragst du, Lose? - Ei - per se!
Ob mir, wie dir, im süßen Drange,
Bei zarter Losung frohen Klange,
Das Herz vor Wonnen übergeh'?
Ob ich dich lieb' und an dir hange,
In jedem Bild nur dich umfange? -
Ob? kannst du fragen? - Ei - per se!
Ob du mir aber gut vom Herzen,
Ob's mehr sei, als ein lockend' Scherzen,
Was ich in deinem Auge seh'? -
O nein, das Auge kann nicht trügen,
O nein, die Zunge kann nicht lügen,
Ob du mir gut bist? - Ei - per se!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with: Novelletten von Johann Gabriel Seidl, Wien: Druck und Verlag von J.P. Sollinger, 1839, pages 34-35.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "Question and answer", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 163
Question and answer
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
If I have a heart in my breast
That, as gently as a chain of roses,
Twined itself about other people's joys and sorrows?
If these eyes have ever been suffused with tears,
If these lips have ever bestowed kisses?
If? you ask, maiden? - Ah - per se!
If I understand the quite trembling of longing,
If I understand the secret rising of the breast,
If I understand the lightning spark of a glance?
If my soul is not sharply pierced
When feeling the warm pressure of warm hands?
If? you ask, wanton? - Ah - per se!
If for me as for you, in sweet compulsion,
When the joyful sound of a tender watchword sounds,
My heart overflows with rapture?
If I love you and cleave unto you,
In every image embrace only you?
If? you can ask? - Ah - per se!
But if you have a heartfelt fondness for me,
If it be more than a tempting jest
That I see in your eyes?-
Oh no, the eyes cannot deceive,
Oh no, the tongue cannot lie,
If you are fond of me? - Ah - per se!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 191