Rastlose Liebe
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Dem Wind entgegen,
Im Dampf der Klüfte,
Durch Nebeldüfte,
Immer zu! Immer zu!
Ohne Rast und Ruh!
Lieber durch Leiden
Wollt’ ich mich schlagen,
Als so viel Freuden
Des Lebens ertragen.
Alle das Neigen
Von Herzen zu Herzen,
Ach, wie so eigen
Schaffet es Schmerzen!
Wie soll ich flieh’n?
Wälderwärts zieh’n?
Alles vergebens!
Krone des Lebens,
Glück ohne Ruh,
Liebe, bist du!
Restless Love
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
and the wind,
through steamy ravines,
through mists,
onwards, ever onwards!
Without respite!
I would sooner fight my way
through suffering
than endure so much
of life’s joy.
This affection
of one heart for another,
ah, how strangely
it creates pain!
How shall I flee?
Into the forest?
It is all in vain!
Crown of life,
happiness without peace –
this, O love, is you!
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Rastlose Liebe
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Restless Love
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Dem Schnee, dem Regen,
Into the snow, the rain,
Dem Wind entgegen,
and the wind,
Im Dampf der Klüfte,
through steamy ravines,
Durch Nebeldüfte,
through mists,
Immer zu! Immer zu!
onwards, ever onwards!
Ohne Rast und Ruh!
Without respite!
Lieber durch Leiden
I would sooner fight my way
Wollt’ ich mich schlagen,
through suffering
Als so viel Freuden
than endure so much
Des Lebens ertragen.
of life’s joy.
Alle das Neigen
This affection
Von Herzen zu Herzen,
of one heart for another,
Ach, wie so eigen
ah, how strangely
Schaffet es Schmerzen!
it creates pain!
Wie soll ich flieh’n?
How shall I flee?
Wälderwärts zieh’n?
Into the forest?
Alles vergebens!
It is all in vain!
Krone des Lebens,
Crown of life,
Glück ohne Ruh,
happiness without peace –
Liebe, bist du!
this, O love, is you!
Composer
Johann Friedrich Reichardt
Johann Friedrich Reichardt was a German composer, writer and music critic. He began his musical training at a young age, learning the violin, keyboard, and lute, as well as touring with the 'Wunderknaben', a boys' choir.
Poet
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…