Songs

Die sieben Siegel

by Richard Strauss

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Text & Translation

Die sieben Siegel
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Weil ich dich nicht legen kann
Unterm Schloß und Riegel;
Dir zum Abschied leg’ ich an
Diese sieben Siegel.
Küsse sollen Siegel sein,
Einer auf die Lippe,
Daß am Nektarkelche kein
Honigdieb mir nippe!
Dieses Siegel auf die Brust,
Auf den Nacken dieses;
Fremder Wunsch sei fern der Luft
Meines Paradieses!
Zweie noch auf Wang’ und Wang’,
Und auf Aug’ und Auge;
Daß kein Mund danach verlang’
Und kein Blick hier sauge!
Liebes Kind, um deine Schuld
Trag die Siegel in Geduld!
Morgen wollen wir die bösen
Sieben Siegel wieder lösen.

The seven seals
English translation © Richard Stokes

As I cannot put you
Under bolts and bars,
As I depart, I’ll lay on you
These seven seals.
One seal shall be placed
On your lips as a kiss,
So that no honey thief
Can taste my cup of nectar!
I lay this seal on your breast,
And this one on your neck;
May no stranger’s desire
Draw near my paradise!
Two more upon each cheek,
And two more on each eye;
That no mouth shall desire them
And no look feed there!
Dear child, bear the seals
Patiently as penance!
Tomorrow we’ll take away
The nasty seals again.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Die sieben Siegel
German source: Friedrich Rückert

The seven seals
English source: Richard Stokes

Weil ich dich nicht legen kann
As I cannot put you
Unterm Schloß und Riegel;
Under bolts and bars,
Dir zum Abschied leg’ ich an
As I depart, I’ll lay on you
Diese sieben Siegel.
These seven seals.
Küsse sollen Siegel sein,
One seal shall be placed
Einer auf die Lippe,
On your lips as a kiss,
Daß am Nektarkelche kein
So that no honey thief
Honigdieb mir nippe!
Can taste my cup of nectar!
Dieses Siegel auf die Brust,
I lay this seal on your breast,
Auf den Nacken dieses;
And this one on your neck;
Fremder Wunsch sei fern der Luft
May no stranger’s desire
Meines Paradieses!
Draw near my paradise!
Zweie noch auf Wang’ und Wang’,
Two more upon each cheek,
Und auf Aug’ und Auge;
And two more on each eye;
Daß kein Mund danach verlang’
That no mouth shall desire them
Und kein Blick hier sauge!
And no look feed there!
Liebes Kind, um deine Schuld
Dear child, bear the seals
Trag die Siegel in Geduld!
Patiently as penance!
Morgen wollen wir die bösen
Tomorrow we’ll take away
Sieben Siegel wieder lösen.
The nasty seals again.

Composer

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.  Read more here.

Poet

Friedrich Rückert

Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…

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