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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Zu Zwein
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Ein Herz allein, wie möcht' es tragen 
Doch all der Liebe Wonn' und Lust, 
O! würd' ihm nicht entgegenschlagen 
Ein zweites Herz in treuer Brust?
  Könnt' eines nicht dem andern immer 
Verschenken von dem reichen Schatz: 
Der Liebe Himmel hat ja nimmer 
In einem einzgen Herzen Platz!

  Ein Herz allein, wie möcht' es tragen 
Doch all der Liebe Leid und Pein, 
Könnt' eines nicht dem andern klagen, 
Wie bang ihm muß zu Muthe sein?
  Doch jede Klage wird zur Wonne, 
Sucht eines bei dem andern Rast; 
Durch jedes Dunkel bricht die Sonne, 
Trägt eines froh des andern Last.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 216-217.


Text Authorship:

  • by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Zu Zwein", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 245 [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 Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-02-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 99

As a twosome
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  A solitary heart, however could it bear
All the bliss and joy of love,
Oh! if a second heart in a faithful bosom
Did not pulse in reply?
  If one could not always share
With the other gifts from the rich treasure:
For within a single heart there is
Never room for the heaven of love!

  A solitary heart, how could it bear
All the sorrow and pain of love,
How apprehensive would it feel
If it could not lament to another?
  But every lament becomes a joy
When one seeks rest with another;
The sun breaks through every darkness
When one gladly bears the burden of the other.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Zu Zwein", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 245
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2026-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

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