Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
[Myrtil]1, wenn deine Lippen mich berühren, [Dann]2 will die Lust die Seele mir entführen; Ich [fühl' ein sanftes]3 namenloses Beben Den Busen heben. Mein Auge flammt, Gluth schwebt auf meinen Wangen, Es schlägt mein Herz ein unbekannt Verlangen, Mein Geist, verirrt in trunkner Lippen Stammeln Kann kaum sich sammeln. Mein Leben hängt in einer solchen Stunde An Deinem süßen rosenweichen Munde, Und will bei deinem trauten Armumfassen Mich fast verlassen. O! daß es doch nicht ausser sich kann fliehen, Die Seele ganz in [deine]4 Seele glühen! Daß doch die Lippen, die [voll]5 Sehnsucht brennen Sich müssen trennen! Daß doch im Kuß mein Wesen nicht zerfliesset Wenn es so fest an deinen Mund sich schliesset, Und an dein Herz, das [nimmer]6 laut darf wagen Für mich zu schlagen!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von C. L. v. Klenke, geb. Karschin. Berlin, 1788, pages 193-194.
Note: First published anonymously in a different version in Iris. Dritter Band. Düsseldorf 1775, see below.
1 Schubert: "O du"2 Schubert: "So"
3 Schubert: "fühle tief ein"
4 Schubert: "deiner"
5 Schubert: "vor"
6 Schubert: "niemals"
Authorship:
- by Karoline Louise von Klenke (1754 - 1802), "An Myrtil", first published 1775 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Heimliches Lieben", op. 106 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 922 (1827), published 1828 [ voice, piano ], Lithographisches Institut, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Ludwig Abeille, Philipp Christoph Kayser.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David Gordon) , no title, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: David Gordon , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 127
When your lips touch me, Desire would bear my soul away; I feel a nameless trembling Which swells my breast. My eyes flame, a glow colors my cheeks; My heart beats with an unknown longing; My mind, lost in the stammering of my drunken lips Can hardly compose itself. In such a moment my life hangs On your sweet lips, soft as roses, And, in your dear embrace, Life nearly deserts me. Oh would that my life could escape from itself, My soul aflame in yours! Oh that lips burning with longing Must part! Oh that my being might not dissolve in kisses When my lips are pressed so tightly to yours, And to your heart, which might never dare To beat aloud for me!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Heimliches Lieben" = "Secret love"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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 Karoline Louise von Klenke (1754 - 1802), "An Myrtil", first published 1775
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 125