Text & Translation
Frauenliebe und -leben
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
Wie so milde, wie so gut!
Holde Lippen, klares Auge,
Heller Sinn und fester Mut.
So wie dort in blauer Tiefe,
Hell und herrlich, jener Stern,
Also er an meinem Himmel,
Hell und herrlich, hehr und fern.
Wandle, wandle deine Bahnen;
Nur betrachten deinen Schein,
Nur in Demut ihn betrachten,
Selig nur und traurig sein!
Höre nicht mein stilles Beten,
Deinem Glücke nur geweiht;
Darfst mich niedre Magd nicht kennen,
Hoher Stern der Herrlichkeit!
Nur die Würdigste von allen
Darf beglücken deine Wahl,
Und ich will die Hohe segnen,
Viele tausendmal.
Will mich freuen dann und weinen,
Selig, selig bin ich dann;
Sollte mir das Herz auch brechen,
Brich, o Herz, was liegt daran?
He, the most wonderful of all
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
How gentle and loving he is!
Sweet lips, bright eyes,
A clear mind and firm resolve.
Just as there in the deep-blue distance
That star gleams bright and brilliant,
So does he shine in my sky,
Bright and brilliant, distant and sublime.
Wander, wander on your way,
Just to gaze on your radiance,
Just to gaze on in humility,
To be but blissful and sad!
Do not heed my silent prayer,
Uttered for your happiness alone,
You shall never know me, lowly as I am,
You noble star of splendour!
Only the worthiest woman of all
May your choice elate,
And I shall bless that exalted one
Many thousands of times.
Then shall I rejoice and weep,
Blissful, blissful shall I be,
Even if my heart should break,
Break, O heart, what does it matter?
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Frauenliebe und -leben
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
He, the most wonderful of all
English source:
Richard Stokes
Er, der Herrlichste von allen,
He, the most wonderful of all,
Wie so milde, wie so gut!
How gentle and loving he is!
Holde Lippen, klares Auge,
Sweet lips, bright eyes,
Heller Sinn und fester Mut.
A clear mind and firm resolve.
So wie dort in blauer Tiefe,
Just as there in the deep-blue distance
Hell und herrlich, jener Stern,
That star gleams bright and brilliant,
Also er an meinem Himmel,
So does he shine in my sky,
Hell und herrlich, hehr und fern.
Bright and brilliant, distant and sublime.
Wandle, wandle deine Bahnen;
Wander, wander on your way,
Nur betrachten deinen Schein,
Just to gaze on your radiance,
Nur in Demut ihn betrachten,
Just to gaze on in humility,
Selig nur und traurig sein!
To be but blissful and sad!
Höre nicht mein stilles Beten,
Do not heed my silent prayer,
Deinem Glücke nur geweiht;
Uttered for your happiness alone,
Darfst mich niedre Magd nicht kennen,
You shall never know me, lowly as I am,
Hoher Stern der Herrlichkeit!
You noble star of splendour!
Nur die Würdigste von allen
Only the worthiest woman of all
Darf beglücken deine Wahl,
May your choice elate,
Und ich will die Hohe segnen,
And I shall bless that exalted one
Viele tausendmal.
Many thousands of times.
Will mich freuen dann und weinen,
Then shall I rejoice and weep,
Selig, selig bin ich dann;
Blissful, blissful shall I be,
Sollte mir das Herz auch brechen,
Even if my heart should break,
Brich, o Herz, was liegt daran?
Break, O heart, what does it matter?
Composer
Franz Lachner
Franz Paul Lachner was a German composer and conductor. Read more here.
Poet
Adelbert von Chamisso
Adelbert von Chamisso was a German poet and botanist, author of Peter Schlemihl, a famous story about a man who sold his shadow. He was commonly known in French as Adelbert de Chamisso(t) de Boncourt, a name referring to the family estate at…