Frühlingsgedränge
German source:
Nikolaus Lenau
Flatternde Blüten, duftende Hauche,
Schmachtende, jubelnde Liebesgesänge
Stürzen an’s Herz mir aus jedem Strauche.
Frühlingskinder mein Herz umschwärmen,
Flüstern hinein mit schmeichelnden Worten,
Rufen hinein mit trunknem Lärmen,
Rütteln an längst verschlossnen Pforten.
Frühlingskinder, mein Herz umringend,
Was doch sucht ihr darin so dringend?
Hab’ ich’s verraten euch jüngst im Traume,
Schlummernd unterm Blütenbaume?
Brachten euch Morgenwinde die Sage,
Daß ich im Herzen eingeschlossen
Euren lieblichen Spielgenossen,
Heimlich und selig – ihr Bildnis trage?
Thronging Spring
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Fluttering blossoms, fragrant breezes,
Languishing, jubilant songs of love
Storm my heart from every shrub.
Children of Spring swarm round my heart,
Whisper their way in with flattering words,
Clamour their way in with drunken cries,
Rattle at doors long since closed.
Children of Spring surrounding my heart,
What do you seek there so urgently?
Have I lately revealed to you in a dream,
Asleep beneath a blossoming tree,
Did the morning breezes rumour to you
That I have locked your sweet playmates
In my heart,
Where secretly and blissfully I hide their picture?
Stokes translation from Hyperion Strauss, Vol. 5
Frühlingsgedränge
German source:
Nikolaus Lenau
Thronging Spring
English source:
Richard Stokes
Frühlingskinder im bunten Gedränge,
Children of Spring in colourful throngs,
Flatternde Blüten, duftende Hauche,
Fluttering blossoms, fragrant breezes,
Schmachtende, jubelnde Liebesgesänge
Languishing, jubilant songs of love
Stürzen an’s Herz mir aus jedem Strauche.
Storm my heart from every shrub.
Frühlingskinder mein Herz umschwärmen,
Children of Spring swarm round my heart,
Flüstern hinein mit schmeichelnden Worten,
Whisper their way in with flattering words,
Rufen hinein mit trunknem Lärmen,
Clamour their way in with drunken cries,
Rütteln an längst verschlossnen Pforten.
Rattle at doors long since closed.
Frühlingskinder, mein Herz umringend,
Children of Spring surrounding my heart,
Was doch sucht ihr darin so dringend?
What do you seek there so urgently?
Hab’ ich’s verraten euch jüngst im Traume,
Have I lately revealed to you in a dream,
Schlummernd unterm Blütenbaume?
Asleep beneath a blossoming tree,
Brachten euch Morgenwinde die Sage,
Did the morning breezes rumour to you
Daß ich im Herzen eingeschlossen
That I have locked your sweet playmates
Euren lieblichen Spielgenossen,
In my heart,
Heimlich und selig – ihr Bildnis trage?
Where secretly and blissfully I hide their picture?
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
Nikolaus Lenau
Nikolaus Lenau was the nom de plume of Nikolaus Franz Niembsch Edler von Strehlenau, a German-language Austrian poet. He was born at Schadat, now Lenauheim, Romania, then in Hungary. His father, a Habsburg government official, died in 1807 in…