by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Sterne mit den goldnen Füßchen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT ENG FRE ITA
   Sterne mit den goldnen Füßchen,
Wandeln droben bang und sacht,
Daß sie nicht die Erde wecken
Die da schläft im Schoß der Nacht.
 
   Horchend stehn die stummen Wälder,
Jedes Blatt ein grünes Ohr!
Und der Berg, wie träumend streckt er
Seinen Schattenarm hervor.
 
   Doch was rief [dort]1? In mein Herze
Dringt der Töne Widerhall.
War es der Geliebten Stimme,
Oder [nur]2 die Nachtigall?

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [no year], page 251

1 Franz, Wolf: "es"
2 Franz, Wolf: "war's"

Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, a translation by J. Carpenter ; composed by Franz Wilhelm Abt.
  • Also set in English, a translation by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1826 - 1911) , appears in The Poems of Heine Complete, first published 1861 ; composed by William Henry Berwald.
  • Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Nicolae Bretan.
  • Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Alfred Heller.
  • Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Constantin Silvestri.
  • Also set in English, a translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939) , "Güldne Sternlein schauen nieder", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 201, first published 1887 ; composed by George Frederick Boyle, Percy Victor Sharman.
  • Also set in Italian (Italiano), a translation by Bernardino Zendrini (1839 - 1879) ; composed by Guglielmo Andreoli.
  • Also set in Romanian (Română), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Nicolae Bretan.
  • Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Jacob Axel Josephson.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (John Sullivan Dwight) , "Stars with little golden feetlet"
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Stelle dalle zampette d'oro", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Stars with little golden feet
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
   Stars with little golden feet
Are wandering above, anxiously and gently,
So that they do not waken the earth
That sleeps in the lap of night.
 
   Listening the mute forests stand,
Every leaf a green ear!
And the mountain, as in a dream,
Stretches forth its shadowy arm.
 
   But what called [yonder]1? Into my heart
Penetrates the echo of the sounds.
Was it the voice of my beloved,
Or [simply]2 the nightingale?

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Translated titles:
"Sterne mit den gold'nen Füßchen" = "Stars with little golden feet"
"Sterne" = "Stars"
"Nachtlied" = "Night song"
"Sommernacht" = "Summer night"
"Nachtstück" = "Night piece"
"Mainacht" = "May night"

1 omitted by Franz, Wolf
2 Franz, Wolf: "was it"

Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-06-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 73