Berg und Burgen schaun herunter
German source:
Heinrich Heine
In den spiegelhellen Rhein,
Und mein Schiffchen segelt munter,
Rings umglänzt von Sonnenschein.
Ruhig seh’ ich zu dem Spiele
Goldner Wellen, kraus bewegt;
Still erwachen die Gefühle,
Die ich tief im Busen hegt’.
Freundlich grüssend und verheissend
Lockt hinab des Stromes Pracht;
Doch ich kenn’ ihn, oben gleissend,
Bringt sein Innres Tod und Nacht.
Oben Lust, in Busen Tücken,
Strom, du bist der Liebsten Bild!
Die kann auch so freundlich nicken,
Lächelt auch so fromm und mild.
Mountains and castles gaze down
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Into the mirror-bright Rhine,
And my little boat sails merrilly,
The sunshine glistening around it.
Calmly I watch the play
Of golden, ruffled waves surging;
Silently feelings awaken in me
That I had kept deep in my heart.
With friendly greetings and promises,
The river’s splendour beckons;
But I know it—gleaming above
It conceals within itself Death and Night.
Above, pleasure; at heart, malice;
River, you are the image of my beloved!
She can nod with just as much friendliness,
And smile so devotedly and gently.
Berg und Burgen schaun herunter
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Mountains and castles gaze down
English source:
Richard Stokes
Berg’ und Burgen schaun herunter
Mountains and castles gaze down
In den spiegelhellen Rhein,
Into the mirror-bright Rhine,
Und mein Schiffchen segelt munter,
And my little boat sails merrilly,
Rings umglänzt von Sonnenschein.
The sunshine glistening around it.
Ruhig seh’ ich zu dem Spiele
Calmly I watch the play
Goldner Wellen, kraus bewegt;
Of golden, ruffled waves surging;
Still erwachen die Gefühle,
Silently feelings awaken in me
Die ich tief im Busen hegt’.
That I had kept deep in my heart.
Freundlich grüssend und verheissend
With friendly greetings and promises,
Lockt hinab des Stromes Pracht;
The river’s splendour beckons;
Doch ich kenn’ ihn, oben gleissend,
But I know it—gleaming above
Bringt sein Innres Tod und Nacht.
It conceals within itself Death and Night.
Oben Lust, in Busen Tücken,
Above, pleasure; at heart, malice;
Strom, du bist der Liebsten Bild!
River, you are the image of my beloved!
Die kann auch so freundlich nicken,
She can nod with just as much friendliness,
Lächelt auch so fromm und mild.
And smile so devotedly and gently.
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…
Poet
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…