Auf dem See
German source:
Karl Joseph Simrock
Rebenhügel um den See,
Drüber blauer Berge Bogen
Schimmernd weiß im reinen Schnee.
Wie der Kahn uns hebt und wieget,
Leichter Nebel steigt und fällt,
Süßer Himmelsfriede lieget
Über der beglänzten Welt.
Stürmend Herz, tu auf die Augen,
Sieh umher und werde mild;
Glück und Friede magst du saugen
Aus des Doppelhimmels Bild.
Spiegelnd sieh die Flut erwidern
Turm und Hügel, Busch und Stadt,
Also spiegle du in Liedern
Was die Erde Schönstes hat.
On the Lake
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Vine-clad hills around the lake,
An arc of blue mountains beyond,
Shimmering white in pure snow.
As the boat lifts and rocks us,
Light mist rises and falls,
The sweet peace of heaven
Lies over the radiant world.
Pounding heart, open your eyes,
Look about you and be appeased;
You can absorb happiness and peace
From this double image of heaven.
See how the waters reflect
Tower and hill, woodland and town,
Likewise in your songs reflect
The fairest that earth has to offer.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Auf dem See
German source:
Karl Joseph Simrock
On the Lake
English source:
Richard Stokes
Blauer Himmel, blaue Wogen,
Blue sky, blue waves,
Rebenhügel um den See,
Vine-clad hills around the lake,
Drüber blauer Berge Bogen
An arc of blue mountains beyond,
Schimmernd weiß im reinen Schnee.
Shimmering white in pure snow.
Wie der Kahn uns hebt und wieget,
As the boat lifts and rocks us,
Leichter Nebel steigt und fällt,
Light mist rises and falls,
Süßer Himmelsfriede lieget
The sweet peace of heaven
Über der beglänzten Welt.
Lies over the radiant world.
Stürmend Herz, tu auf die Augen,
Pounding heart, open your eyes,
Sieh umher und werde mild;
Look about you and be appeased;
Glück und Friede magst du saugen
You can absorb happiness and peace
Aus des Doppelhimmels Bild.
From this double image of heaven.
Spiegelnd sieh die Flut erwidern
See how the waters reflect
Turm und Hügel, Busch und Stadt,
Tower and hill, woodland and town,
Also spiegle du in Liedern
Likewise in your songs reflect
Was die Erde Schönstes hat.
The fairest that earth has to offer.
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
