Liebesode
German source:
Otto Erich Hartleben
Am offnen Fenster lauschte der Sommerwind,
und unsrer Atemzüge Frieden
trug er hinaus in die helle Mondnacht. –
Und aus dem Garten tastete zagend sich
Ein Rosenduft an unserer Liebe Bett
Und gab uns wundervolle Träume,
Träume des Rausches – so reich an Sehnsucht!
Ode to love
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The summer wind listened at the open window,
and carried the peace of our breathing
out into the moon-bright night. –
And from the garden a scent of roses
came timidly to our bed of love
and gave us wonderful dreams,
ecstatic dreams – so rich in longing!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Liebesode
German source:
Otto Erich Hartleben
Ode to love
English source:
Richard Stokes
Im Arm der Liebe schliefen wir selig ein.
In love’s arms we fell blissfully asleep.
Am offnen Fenster lauschte der Sommerwind,
The summer wind listened at the open window,
und unsrer Atemzüge Frieden
and carried the peace of our breathing
trug er hinaus in die helle Mondnacht. –
out into the moon-bright night. –
Und aus dem Garten tastete zagend sich
And from the garden a scent of roses
Ein Rosenduft an unserer Liebe Bett
came timidly to our bed of love
Und gab uns wundervolle Träume,
and gave us wonderful dreams,
Träume des Rausches – so reich an Sehnsucht!
ecstatic dreams – so rich in longing!
Composer
Alban Berg
Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School. His circle included the musicians Alexander von Zemlinsky and Franz Schreker, the painter Gustav Klimt, the writer and satirist Karl Kraus, the architect Adolf Loos,…
