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Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken, Rauscht der Nachtwind, teure Frau! Leise in das Marmorbecken Gießt der Brunnen seinen Tau. Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend, Kreise neben Kreise zieht, Also zittert, leise klopfend, Mir das Herz bei diesem Lied. Schwingt euch, Töne meiner Zither, Schwingt euch aufwärts, flügelleicht; Durch das rebumkränzte Gitter In der Schönen Kammer schleicht. »Ist denn, liebliche Dolores«, Also singt in ihren Traum - »In der Muschel deines Ohres Für kein Perlenwörtchen Raum? Denk der Laube, dicht vergittert, Wo, umrankt von Duftgesträuch, Ihr in Seligkeit gezittert, Wie die Blätter über euch! War der Platz doch still und sicher Und kein Zeuge hat gelauscht; Selten, daß ein abendlicher Vogel durch das Laub gerauscht. O dem Freund [noch]1 eine Stunde, Wo dein Arm ihn [so]2 umschlingt, Und der Kuß von deinem Munde Feurig bis ans Herz ihm dringt! Hast du ihn so ganz vergessen? Einsam harrt er am Balkon, Überm Wipfel der Zypressen Bleicht des Mondes Sichel schon. Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend, Kreise neben Kreise zieht, Also zittert, leise klopfend, Ihm das Herz bei diesem Lied.«
J. Brahms sets stanzas 1-4, 7-9
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Brahms: "nur"
2 Brahms: "heiß"
Text Authorship:
- by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), "Serenade", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Aus allen Zonen [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Serenade", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 8, published 1872, stanzas 1-4,7-9 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Anton Eberhardt (1855 - 1922), "Serenade", op. 22 (Fünf Gedichte für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1891 [ baritone and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Steyl & Thomas [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ludwig (or Louis) von Hirschfeld , "Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken", op. 17 no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Aus dem Morgenlande. 3 Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 3, Berlin, Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Serenade", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Serenade", copyright © 1998
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sérénade", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 177
Gently, so as not to awaken you, Rustles the night wind, dear woman! Quietly into the marble basin The fountain pours its dew. As the water, dripping down, Draws circle after circle, So, gently pounding, does my heart Tremble at this song. Vibrate, o sounds of my zither, Float upwards, on light wings; Through the vine-wreathed lattice Slip into my darling's boudoir. "Is there then, my lovely Dolores," sing to her in her dream - "In the mussel-shell of your ears, Is there no room for pearl-like little words? Think of the leaves, thickly enclosing the trellis, Where, entwined among sweet-scented bushes, You trembled in bliss, Like the leaves above you! The place was yet still and safe And nothing espied us; It was seldom that a night Bird rustled in the foliage. O give your friend [one more]1 hour, When your arms enfold him [thus]2, And a kiss from your mouth Pierces his heart like fire! Have you so completely forgotten him? Alone, he awaits you on the balcony; Over the tops of the cypresses The sickle-moon is already turning pale. As the water, dripping down, Draws circle after circle, So, gently pounding, does his heart Tremble at this song.
1 in the Brahms version, "just one"
2 in the Brahms version, "warmly"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1998 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894), "Serenade", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Aus allen Zonen
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 203