Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Die liebt’ ich einst alle in Liebeswonne.
Ich lieb’ sie nicht mehr, ich liebe alleine
Die Kleine, die Feine, die Reine, die Eine;
Sie selber, aller Liebe Wonne,
Ist Rose und Lilie und Taube und Sonne.
Rose, lily, dove, sun
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I loved them all once in the bliss of love.
I love them no more, I only love
She who is small, fine, pure, rare;
She, most blissful of all loves,
Is rose and lily and dove and sun.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Rose, lily, dove, sun
English source:
Richard Stokes
Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne,
Rose, lily, dove, sun,
Die liebt’ ich einst alle in Liebeswonne.
I loved them all once in the bliss of love.
Ich lieb’ sie nicht mehr, ich liebe alleine
I love them no more, I only love
Die Kleine, die Feine, die Reine, die Eine;
She who is small, fine, pure, rare;
Sie selber, aller Liebe Wonne,
She, most blissful of all loves,
Ist Rose und Lilie und Taube und Sonne.
Is rose and lily and dove and sun.
Composer
Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer was a German opera composer of Jewish birth who has been described as perhaps the most successful stage composer of the nineteenth century.
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…