When you have wounded a faithful

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by Ludwig Reiner

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wenn du ein treues, liebes Herz

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Wenn du ein treues, liebes Herz
Ins Mark hinein verwundet hast,
So schau' nach Mitteln allerwärts,
Wie du es heilest ohne Rast!

O thu ihm schnell was Gutes an, 
Viel' liebe Thaten ungezählt,
Daß es am Opfer sehen kann,
Wie tief dich deine Reue quält!

Und übe fort die süße Pflicht,
Bis du die ganze Schuld bezahlt, 
Bis das geliebte Angesicht 
Die alte Liebe wieder strahlt!

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Heidenröslein. Lieder von Liebeslust und Frühlingsfreud', Gesammelt von Dr. Karl Zettel, Zehnte Auflage, Stuttgart: Druck und Verlag von Greiner & Pfeiffer, [1892?], page 67.

Text Authorship:

by Ludwig Reiner , "Mahnwort" [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 Carl Jacob , "Wenn du ein treues liebes Herz", op. 7 no. 1, published 1897 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig: Rob. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

This text was added to the website: 2025-08-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

When you have wounded a faithful

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

When you have wounded a faithful,
Dear heart to the very core,
Then without rest, look everywhere 
For a means by which you may heal it!

Oh quickly do something good for it,
Many dear, innumerable acts [of contrition],
So that by your sacrifice it may see
How deeply your rue torments you!

And continue to practise the sweet duty,
Until you have paid the entire debt,
Until the beloved face once more
Shines in the old love!

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"Mahnwort" = "A word of admonition"
"Wenn du ein treues liebes Herz" = "When you have wounded a faithful, dear heart"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Ludwig Reiner , "Mahnwort"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-09-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 78