Die Rosenblätter
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
sie ist so spiegelglatt.
Ich fische sie mit meinem Hut
und küsse jedes Blatt.
Und streust du Blätter auf das Meer,
so schaust du selbst hinein,
dann schwimmen zwischen ihnen her
vier volle Röselein.
Die Wangen und die Lippen dein,
sie mein' ich alle vier.
Ach schwämmen diese Röselein
doch auch heran zu mir.
The rose-petals
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
It is as smooth as glass.
And I’ll fish for them with my hat
And kiss each petal.
And if you strew petals on the sea,
You yourself will look in,
Four fully blown rosebuds
Will then float towards you.
Your cheeks and your lips
Are the four I mean.
Ah, if only these rosebuds
Would float towards me.
Die Rosenblätter
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
The rose-petals
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wirf Rosenblätter in die Flut,
Throw rose-petals in the water,
sie ist so spiegelglatt.
It is as smooth as glass.
Ich fische sie mit meinem Hut
And I’ll fish for them with my hat
und küsse jedes Blatt.
And kiss each petal.
Und streust du Blätter auf das Meer,
And if you strew petals on the sea,
so schaust du selbst hinein,
You yourself will look in,
dann schwimmen zwischen ihnen her
Four fully blown rosebuds
vier volle Röselein.
Will then float towards you.
Die Wangen und die Lippen dein,
Your cheeks and your lips
sie mein' ich alle vier.
Are the four I mean.
Ach schwämmen diese Röselein
Ah, if only these rosebuds
doch auch heran zu mir.
Would float towards me.
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
Wilhelm Müller
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…