Songs
Stille Liebe
by Robert Schumann From Zwölf Gedichte von Justinus Kerner (1840) Op. 35 20–25.xi & 6–29.xii.1840
Stille Liebe
German source:
Justinus Kerner
Säng’ ich dir das längste Lied.
Ja, ich würd’ in allen Weisen,
Dich zu singen nimmer müd’!
Doch was immer mich betrübte,
Ist, dass ich nur immer stumm
Tragen kann dich, Herzgeliebte,
In des Busens Heiligtum.
Dieser Schmerz hat mich bezwungen,
Dass ich sang dies kleine Lied,
Doch von bitterm Leid durchdrungen,
Dass noch kein’s auf dich geriet.
Silent Love
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I’d sing you my longest song.
To all the tunes there are, I’d
Never tire of praising you!
But my trouble’s always been,
That always mutely only
Am I able, beloved, to carry you
In the shrine of my heart.
By the agony of this I’m forced
To sing this little song,
Yet am filled with bitter grief
That none to you has yet succeeded.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Stille Liebe
German source:
Justinus Kerner
Silent Love
English source:
Richard Stokes
Könnt’ ich dich in Liedern preisen,
If in song I could extol you,
Säng’ ich dir das längste Lied.
I’d sing you my longest song.
Ja, ich würd’ in allen Weisen,
To all the tunes there are, I’d
Dich zu singen nimmer müd’!
Never tire of praising you!
Doch was immer mich betrübte,
But my trouble’s always been,
Ist, dass ich nur immer stumm
That always mutely only
Tragen kann dich, Herzgeliebte,
Am I able, beloved, to carry you
In des Busens Heiligtum.
In the shrine of my heart.
Dieser Schmerz hat mich bezwungen,
By the agony of this I’m forced
Dass ich sang dies kleine Lied,
To sing this little song,
Doch von bitterm Leid durchdrungen,
Yet am filled with bitter grief
Dass noch kein’s auf dich geriet.
That none to you has yet succeeded.
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…
Poet
Justinus Kerner
Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet, practicing physician, and medical writer. He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg. After attending the classical schools of Ludwigsburg and Maulbronn, he was apprenticed in a cloth factory,…