by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Der Rosenkranz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  DUT ENG FRE
An des Beetes Umbuschung
Brach sie Rosen zum Kranz,
Feurig prangte die Mischung
Rings im tauigen Glanz.
Ros' auf Ros' in das Körbchen sank,
Purpurrot und wie Silber blank.

Zwar den Grazien heilig,
Sang sie, blühet ihr dort;
Warum aber so eilig 
Abgeblüht und verdorrt?
Die [sich eben geöffnet blähn]1,
Werden bald in dem Winde wehn.

Rund zusammen gefaltet,
Glühst du schwellend am Strauch;
Komm, o Rose: dich spaltet
Mein anathmender Hauch.
Ach! wir schwellen, wie du, und glühn;
Nur ein Lüftchen, und wir verblühn.

Du rotstreifiges Knöpfchen,
Zitternd [scheust]2 du dein Grab,
Und ein perlendes Tröpfchen
Hängt als Träne herab.
Bleib! du sollst in dem Sonnenschein
Dich des flüchtigen Lebens freun.

Mit tiefsinniger Säumnis
Flocht das Mädchen den Kranz,
In der Laube Geheimnis
Lieb' und Zärtlichkeit ganz.
Als aufs Haupt sie das Kränzchen nahm,
Wohl mir [Seligem]3, daß ich kam!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Hensel 

F. Hensel sets stanzas 1-2, 4-5

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Musenalmanach für 1800, Neustrelitz: Ferdinand Albanus [1799], page 33f. Spelling slightly modernized (e.g., "thauiegen" has been changed to "tauigen", etc.

1 Mendelssohn-Hensel: "so eben geöffnet stehn"
2 Mendelssohn-Hensel: "schaust"
3 Mendelssohn-Hensel: "Seligen"

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):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De rozenkroon", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The rose-wreath", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La couronne de roses", copyright © 2013, (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: 30
Word count: 146

The rose‑wreath
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
By the bed of rosebushes
she picked roses for a wreath;
fiery, they all sparkled 
around in dewy splendour.
Rose after rose dropped into the basket,
purple-red and bright like silver.

It is true that you are sacred to the Graces,
she sang, you blossoming there;
but why do you wilt 
and wither so quickly?
Those that were standing open just a moment ago,
will soon be blowing in the wind.









You red-streaked bud,
trembling you gaze into your grave
and a pearly little drop
hangs down like a tear.
Remain - you should rejoice in the sunshine
of fleeting life.

Tarrying with deep emotion,
the maiden wove the wreath
in the secrecy of the grove,
all love and tenderness.
When she put the wreath on her head,
what bliss it was for me that I arrived at that moment.

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: 24
Word count: 139