Songs

Madrigal

by Richard Strauss From Fünf Lieder (1886) Op. 15

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Text & Translation

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Madrigal
German source: Sophie Hasenclever

Ins Joch beug' ich den Nacken demuthvoll,
Beug' lächelnd vor dem Mißgeschick dies Haupt,
Dies Herz das liebt und glaubt,
Vor meiner Feindin. Wider diese Qual
Bäum' ich mich nicht mit Groll,
Mir bangt viel mehr, sie lindre sich einmal.
Wenn deines Auges Strahl
Dies Leid verwandelt hat in Lebenssaft,
Welch Leid hat dann zu töten mich die Kraft?

Madrigal
translation © Richard Stokes

Humbly I submit to the yoke,
Bow, smiling, this head before misfortune,
And this heart too that loves and has faith,
Before my enemy. I do not rise
Resentfully against this torment,
I’m more afraid it will one day abate.
When the radiance of your eyes
Has translated this pain into vital sap,
What pain will have the power to kill me?

Madrigal
German source: Sophie Hasenclever

Madrigal
source: Richard Stokes

Ins Joch beug' ich den Nacken demuthvoll,
Humbly I submit to the yoke,
Beug' lächelnd vor dem Mißgeschick dies Haupt,
Bow, smiling, this head before misfortune,
Dies Herz das liebt und glaubt,
And this heart too that loves and has faith,
Vor meiner Feindin. Wider diese Qual
Before my enemy. I do not rise
Bäum' ich mich nicht mit Groll,
Resentfully against this torment,
Mir bangt viel mehr, sie lindre sich einmal.
I’m more afraid it will one day abate.
Wenn deines Auges Strahl
When the radiance of your eyes
Dies Leid verwandelt hat in Lebenssaft,
Has translated this pain into vital sap,
Welch Leid hat dann zu töten mich die Kraft?
What pain will have the power to kill me?

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.

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