Abschied vom Walde
German source:
Wilfried von der Neun
Der Wandrer mit Herz und Mund:
„Wie wardst du mir lieb so balde,
Was sangst du mir vor allstund!
„Wohl wußt’ ich deine Sprache,
Wohl kannt’ ich deinen Sang,
Und will’s an manchem Tage
Nachsingen trüb und bang.
„Doch nun, o Wald, dein Rauschen,
Dein Brausen laß mir sein!
Nicht alles mag ich tauschen
Für Herbstes Melodein!“
Farewell to the forest
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Takes his leave of the dying forest:
‘How quickly you grew dear to me,
How you sang to me without cease!
‘Well I understood your speech,
And well I recognized your songs,
And shall sing them again on many a day
In sadness and regret.
‘But now, O forest, have done
With your sighing and roaring!
I would not change everything
For the melodies of autumn!’
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Abschied vom Walde
German source:
Wilfried von der Neun
Farewell to the forest
English source:
Richard Stokes
Nun scheidet vom sterbenden Walde
Now the traveller with heart and voice
Der Wandrer mit Herz und Mund:
Takes his leave of the dying forest:
„Wie wardst du mir lieb so balde,
‘How quickly you grew dear to me,
Was sangst du mir vor allstund!
How you sang to me without cease!
„Wohl wußt’ ich deine Sprache,
‘Well I understood your speech,
Wohl kannt’ ich deinen Sang,
And well I recognized your songs,
Und will’s an manchem Tage
And shall sing them again on many a day
Nachsingen trüb und bang.
In sadness and regret.
„Doch nun, o Wald, dein Rauschen,
‘But now, O forest, have done
Dein Brausen laß mir sein!
With your sighing and roaring!
Nicht alles mag ich tauschen
I would not change everything
Für Herbstes Melodein!“
For the melodies of autumn!’
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
