Indeed, how destitute a heart would remain | Indeed, how destitute a heart would remain

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by Ernst Scherenberg (1839 - 1905)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wie bettelarm ein Herz doch bliebe

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Wie bettelarm ein Herz doch bliebe,
Das nur des Andern Freude theilt! 
Das ist das schönste Recht der Liebe, 
Daß sie des Unglücks Wunden heilt!

Kein Kuß -- wie wonnevoll er wäre --
Von Menschenlippen süßer ist,
Als wenn man heimlich eine Zähre
Von einem theuren Auge küßt!

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Ernst Scherenberg, Stürme des Frühlings. Neue Gedichte, Berlin: Verlag von Heinrich Schindler, 1865, page 99.

Text Authorship:

by Ernst Scherenberg (1839 - 1905), no title, appears in Stürme des Frühlings, in Neues Leben, no. 13 [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by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Wie bettel arm ein Herz doch bliebe", 1867 [ voice and piano ], unpublished [sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Indeed, how destitute a heart would remain", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-11
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Indeed, how destitute a heart would remain

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Indeed, how destitute a heart would remain,
[A heart] that only shared the happiness of another!
That is the most beautiful privilege of love
That it heals the wounds of misfortune!

No kiss, however blissful it might be,
From the lips of humankind, is sweeter
Than when one secretly kisses 
A tear from a cherished eye!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Ernst Scherenberg (1839 - 1905), no title, appears in Stürme des Frühlings, in Neues Leben, no. 13
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-17
Line count: 8
Word count: 56