Songs

U potoka ('At the Brook')

by Antonín Dvořák From 4 Songs Op.82 1887-88

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Text & Translation

U potoka ('At the Brook')
Czech source: Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi

Šumí potok v tichém lkání
dál že musí chvatně v kraj,
kolem vábných krásných květin,
jež tu zdobí vonný háj.

Ač jich obraz v srdci nosí,
po nich touží nastokrát,
v dálku musí letmo spěti,
s žádnou nesmí tiše stát.

Nelkej! Mám tu stejný osud;
tiše odvracím svou líc,
od své růže jíti musím v dál,
v dál a nespatřím ji víc!

At the brook
English translation © Anon.

The brook flows quietly and laments
Because it has to flow past
The dear, lovely flowers
That bloom along the green banks.

Though it might see [the image of the flowers]
Reflected in its own heart,
It must nevertheless hasten past;
It is not permitted to stand still caressingly.

Brooklet! You bear my own suffering;
I, too, must walk coldly and silently
Away from the most beautiful flower,
Never to see her again!

U potoka ('At the Brook')
Czech source: Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi

At the brook
English source: Anon.

Šumí potok v tichém lkání
The brook flows quietly and laments
dál že musí chvatně v kraj,
Because it has to flow past
kolem vábných krásných květin,
The dear, lovely flowers
jež tu zdobí vonný háj.
That bloom along the green banks.

Ač jich obraz v srdci nosí,
Though it might see [the image of the flowers]
po nich touží nastokrát,
Reflected in its own heart,
v dálku musí letmo spěti,
It must nevertheless hasten past;
s žádnou nesmí tiše stát.
It is not permitted to stand still caressingly.

Nelkej! Mám tu stejný osud;
Brooklet! You bear my own suffering;
tiše odvracím svou líc,
I, too, must walk coldly and silently
od své růže jíti musím v dál,
Away from the most beautiful flower,
v dál a nespatřím ji víc!
Never to see her again!

Composer

Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Leopold Dvořák (8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Read his full…

Poet

Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi

Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi was a music writer and critic, and promoter of musicians such as Franz Liszt and Modest Mussorgsky.

Performances

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