by Helen Maria Williams (1762 - 1827)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)

No riches from his scanty store
Language: English 
No riches from his scanty store
My lover could impart;
He gave a boon I valued more - 
He gave me all his heart!
His soul sincere, his gen'rous worth,
Might well this bosom move;
And when I ask'd for bliss on earth,
I only meant his love.

But now for me, in search of gain,
From shore to shore he flies:
Why wander, riches to obtain,
When love is all I prize!
The frugal meal, the lowly cot,
If blest my love with thee!
That simple fare, that humble lot,
Were more than wealth to me.

While he the dang'rous ocean braves,
My tears but vainly flow:
Is pity in the faithless waves
To which I pour my woe?
The night is dark, the waters deep;
Yes, soft the billows roll:
Alas! At every breeze I weep; - 
The storm is in my soul.

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):

  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Mein Liebster hat mir eingebracht"


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2005-01-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 143

Mein Liebster hat mir eingebracht
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Mein Liebster hat mir eingebracht
Nicht Gold noch Erdenglanz;
Er gab ein Gut, das reicher macht,
Er gab sein Herz mir ganz.
Sein edler Sinn, sein echter Wert
Nahm meine Seele ein,
Und wenn ich Erdenglück begehrt',
Dacht'ich an ihn allein.

Doch fern vom lieben Heimatsdach
Treibt Durst nach Gold ihn jetzt;
Was jagt sein Herz dem Reichtum nach,
Wenn mich nur Liebe letzt'?
Das karge Mahl, das niedre Zelt
War selig, Lieb', mit dir;
Die schmale Kost, die kleine Welt
War mehr als Reichtum mir.

Dem wilden Ozean trotzet er,
Und fruchtlos ist mein Weh;
Kennt Mitleid wohl das falsche Meer,
An dessen Strand ich fleh'?
Das Meer ist tief und schwarz die Nacht,
Doch friedlich zieht die Flut,
Ach, jeder Wind mich weinen macht - 
Der Sturm durchtost mein Blut!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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: 2005-01-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 131