by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne,
Die Gaben karg, die sie verleihn;
Für einen deiner Blicke gerne
Hin geb' ich ihren goldnen Schein.

Getrennt, so daß wir ewig darben,
Nur führen sie im Jahreslauf
Den Herbst mit seinen Ährengarben,
Des Frühlings Blütenpracht herauf.

Doch deine Augen -- o, der Segen
Des ganzen Jahres quillt überreich
Aus ihnen stets als milder Regen,
Die Blüte und Frucht zugleich!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text 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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Són formoses, però fredes, les estrelles del cel", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Mooi zijn, maar koud de hemelsterren", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The heavenly stars are fair but cold", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les étoiles du ciel sont belles mais froides", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Sono belle, ma fredde", copyright © 2005, (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: 12
Word count: 65

The heavenly stars are fair but cold
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The heavenly stars are fair but cold,
the gifts that they lend meager;
for one look from you I would gladly
give up their golden gleam.

So that we are always starved, only separately
do they bring out in the course of a year
autumn with its ears of corn
and spring with its splendour of blossoms;

yet from your eyes - oh, the blessing
of the entire year springs richly,
as constant as a mild rain:
with both blossom and fruit.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 81