by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
Translation © by Laura Prichard

Eide, so die Liebe schwur
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Spanish (Español) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE
Eide, so die Liebe schwur,
schwache Bürgen sind sie nur.
Sitzt die Liebe zu Gericht,
dann, Señor, vergeßet nicht,
daß sie nie nach Recht und Pflicht,
immer nur nach Gunst verfuhr.

Eide, so die Liebe schwur, 
schwache Bürgen sind sie nur.
Werdet dort Betrübte finden,
die mit Schwüren sich verbinden,
die verschwinden mit den Winden,
wie die Blumen auf der Flur.

Eide, so die Liebe schwur, 
schwache Bürgen sind sie nur.
Und als Schreiber an den Schranken
seht ihr nichtige Gedanken.
Weil die leichten Händlein schwanken,
schreibt euch keiner nach der Schnur.

Eide, so die Liebe schwur, 
schwache Bürgen sind sie nur.
Sind die Bürgen gegenwärtig,
allesamt des Spruch's gewärtig,
machen sie das Urteil fertig;
vom Vollziehen keine Spur!
Eide, so die Liebe schwur, 
schwache Bürgen sind sie nur.

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Text Authorship:

Based on:

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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Juraments, com els que l’amor testimonia", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Oaths, like those sworn from love", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 26
Word count: 129

Oaths, like those sworn from love
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oaths, like [those] sworn from love,
are only lame assurances.
Love sits in judgment,
so, Sir, don’t forget,
that never acts out of right and duty,
but always from goodwill.

Oaths, like [those] sworn from love,
are only lame assurances.
You will find the afflicted there,
those who bind themselves with oaths,
who disappear with the wind,
like the flowers on the meadow.

Oaths, like [those] sworn from love,
are only lame assurances.
And like writers/clerks in the lists
you see vain thoughts.
Because [your] frail little hands shake,
no one will take you seriously.

Oaths, like [those] sworn from love,
are only lame assurances.
Should such assurances exist,
all await the verdict,
[and] issue judgment;
but provide no hint [of resolution]!
Oaths, like [those] sworn by love,
are only lame assurances.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-08
Line count: 26
Word count: 132