by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
What shall I do to shew how much I love her?
Language: English
Our translations: FRE
What shall I do to shew how much I love her? Thoughts that oppress me, O how can I tell? Will my soft passion be able to move her? Language is wanting, when loving so well. Can sighs and tears, in the silence, betoken Half the distress this fond bosom must know? Or will she melt when a true heart is broken, Weeping, too late, o'er her lost lover's woe. Is there a grace comes not playful before her? Is there a virtue, and not in her train? Is there a swain but delights to adore her? Pains she a heart, but it boasts of her chain? Could I believe she'd prevent my undoing, Life's gayest fancies the hope should renew; Or could I think she'd be pleas'd with my ruin, Death should persuade her my sorrows are true!
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "What shall I do to shew how much I love her?" [author's text not yet checked 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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "What shall I do to shew how much I love her?", WoO. 152 (25 irische Lieder) no. 6, G. 223 no. 6 (1810/3) [ vocal duet with violin, violoncello, and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Que dois-je faire pour montrer que je l'aime ?", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Wie soll ich dartun, wie heiß ich sie liebe?"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 139
Wie soll ich dartun, wie heiß ich sie liebe?
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Wie soll ich dartun, wie heiß ich sie liebe? Wie soll ich künden, was herb an mir nagt? Wird sie erweichen die Glut meiner Triebe? Liebe wie meiner sind Worte versagt! Können ihr Tränen und Seufzer erschließen Halb nur die Qual meiner liebenden Brust? Oder wird dann erst im Schmerz sie zerfließen, Klagt sie zu spät ihres Liebsten Verlust? Strahlt wo ein Reiz, der nicht hold sie umschmückte? Leuchtet wo Tugend und ihr nicht im Blick? Klopft wo ein Herz, das ihr Dienst nicht entzückte? Trägt, wer ihr Sklav' ist, nicht stolz sein Geschick? Wüßt' ich, sie wendete ab mein Verderben, Welt, o wie schienst du mir heiter und klar; Doch, wenn ich dächte, Sie wünschte mein Sterben, Wies' ihr mein Tod, wie mein Kummer so wahr.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Wie soll ich dartun, wie heiß ich sie liebe?" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "What shall I do to shew how much I love her?"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 128