Suleika II
German source:
Marianne von Willemer
West, wie sehr ich dich beneide:
Denn du kannst ihm Kunde bringen
Was ich in der Trennung leide!
Die Bewegung deiner Flügel
Weckt im Busen stilles Sehnen;
Blumen, Auen, Wald und Hügel
Stehn bei deinem Hauch in Tränen.
Doch dein mildes sanftes Wehen
Kühlt die wunden Augenlider;
Ach, für Leid müsst’ ich vergehen,
Hofft’ ich nicht zu sehn ihn wieder.
Eile denn zu meinem Lieben,
Spreche sanft zu seinem Herzen;
Doch vermeid’ ihn zu betrüben
Und verbirg ihm meine Schmerzen.
Sag ihm, aber sag’s bescheiden:
Seine Liebe sei mein Leben,
Freudiges Gefühl von beiden
Wird mir seine Nähe geben.
Suleika II
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
your moist wings;
for you can bring him word
of what I suffer separated from him.
The motion of your wings
awakens a silent longing within my breast.
Flowers, meadows, woods and hills
grow tearful at your breath.
But your mild, gentle breeze
cools my sore eyelids;
ah, I should die of grief
if I had no hope of seeing him again.
Hasten then to my beloved
speak softly to his heart –
but be careful not to distress him,
and conceal my suffering from him.
Tell him, but tell him humbly,
that his love is my life,
and that his presence will bring me
a joyous sense of both.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Suleika II
German source:
Marianne von Willemer
Suleika II
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Ach, um deine feuchten Schwingen,
Ah, West Wind, how I envy you
West, wie sehr ich dich beneide:
your moist wings;
Denn du kannst ihm Kunde bringen
for you can bring him word
Was ich in der Trennung leide!
of what I suffer separated from him.
Die Bewegung deiner Flügel
The motion of your wings
Weckt im Busen stilles Sehnen;
awakens a silent longing within my breast.
Blumen, Auen, Wald und Hügel
Flowers, meadows, woods and hills
Stehn bei deinem Hauch in Tränen.
grow tearful at your breath.
Doch dein mildes sanftes Wehen
But your mild, gentle breeze
Kühlt die wunden Augenlider;
cools my sore eyelids;
Ach, für Leid müsst’ ich vergehen,
ah, I should die of grief
Hofft’ ich nicht zu sehn ihn wieder.
if I had no hope of seeing him again.
Eile denn zu meinem Lieben,
Hasten then to my beloved
Spreche sanft zu seinem Herzen;
speak softly to his heart –
Doch vermeid’ ihn zu betrüben
but be careful not to distress him,
Und verbirg ihm meine Schmerzen.
and conceal my suffering from him.
Sag ihm, aber sag’s bescheiden:
Tell him, but tell him humbly,
Seine Liebe sei mein Leben,
that his love is my life,
Freudiges Gefühl von beiden
and that his presence will bring me
Wird mir seine Nähe geben.
a joyous sense of both.
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Marianne von Willemer
Marianne von Willemer was an Austrian actress and dancer best known for her relationship with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and her appearance in his poetry. At the age of 14 she moved to Frankfurt am Main, where she became the third wife of Frankfurt…