Röselein, Röselein!
German source:
Wilfried von der Neun
Müssen denn Dornen sein?
Schlief am schatt’gen Bächelein
Einst zu süssem Träumen ein,
Sah in goldner Sonne-Schein
Dornenlos ein Röselein,
Pflückt’ es auch und küsst’ es fein,
„Dornloses Röselein!“
Ich erwacht’ und schaute drein:
„Hatt’ ich’s doch! wo mag es sein?“
Rings im weiten Sonnenschein
Standen nur Dornröselein!
Und das Bächlein lachte mein:
„Lass du nur dein Träumen sein!
Merk’ dir’s fein, merk’ dir’s fein,
Dornröslein müssen sein!“
Rose, Rose!
English translation ©
Eric Sams
Why must you bear thorns?
Thus musing, I once fell asleep
By a shady brook, and in my dreams
I saw, standing in golden sunshine,
A thornless rose.
And I plucked and kissed it;
A thornless rose!
Then I awoke and looked around.
I knew I had seen one; where was it?
All around, near and far in the sunshine
Stood roses, all with thorns!
And the brook laughed at me:
‘Leave your dreaming;
You may be sure
That all roses have thorns.’
Translation by Eric Sams
Röselein, Röselein!
German source:
Wilfried von der Neun
Rose, Rose!
English source:
Eric Sams
Röselein, Röselein,
Rose, little rose,
Müssen denn Dornen sein?
Why must you bear thorns?
Schlief am schatt’gen Bächelein
Thus musing, I once fell asleep
Einst zu süssem Träumen ein,
By a shady brook, and in my dreams
Sah in goldner Sonne-Schein
I saw, standing in golden sunshine,
Dornenlos ein Röselein,
A thornless rose.
Pflückt’ es auch und küsst’ es fein,
And I plucked and kissed it;
„Dornloses Röselein!“
A thornless rose!
Ich erwacht’ und schaute drein:
Then I awoke and looked around.
„Hatt’ ich’s doch! wo mag es sein?“
I knew I had seen one; where was it?
Rings im weiten Sonnenschein
All around, near and far in the sunshine
Standen nur Dornröselein!
Stood roses, all with thorns!
Und das Bächlein lachte mein:
And the brook laughed at me:
„Lass du nur dein Träumen sein!
‘Leave your dreaming;
Merk’ dir’s fein, merk’ dir’s fein,
You may be sure
Dornröslein müssen sein!“
That all roses have thorns.’
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
