Text & Translation
Vergebliche Liebe
German source:
Josef Karl Bernard
Hegt unsonst mein wundes Herz!
Wenn mir nur die kleinste Hoffnung bliebe,
Reich belohnet wär’ mein Schmerz!
Aber auch die Hoffnung ist vergebens,
Kenn’ ich doch ihr grausam Spiel!
Trotz der Treue meines Strebens
Fliehet ewig mich das Ziel!
Dennoch lieb’ ich, dennoch hoff’ ich, immer
Ohne Liebe, ohne Hoffnung treu;
Lassen kann ich diese Liebe nimmer!
Mit ihr bricht das Herz entzwei!
Futile love
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
harbours this true love in vain.
If only the slightest hope remained for me
my sorrow would be richly rewarded.
But even hope is in vain,
for I know her cruel game!
Despite my constant endeavour
my goal forever eludes me!
Yet I love, yet I hope unceasingly,
faithful, even without love or hope;
I can never forsake this love,
yet with it my heart breaks in two!
Vergebliche Liebe
German source:
Josef Karl Bernard
Futile love
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Ja, ich weiss es, diese treue Liebe
Yes, I know, my wounded heart
Hegt unsonst mein wundes Herz!
harbours this true love in vain.
Wenn mir nur die kleinste Hoffnung bliebe,
If only the slightest hope remained for me
Reich belohnet wär’ mein Schmerz!
my sorrow would be richly rewarded.
Aber auch die Hoffnung ist vergebens,
But even hope is in vain,
Kenn’ ich doch ihr grausam Spiel!
for I know her cruel game!
Trotz der Treue meines Strebens
Despite my constant endeavour
Fliehet ewig mich das Ziel!
my goal forever eludes me!
Dennoch lieb’ ich, dennoch hoff’ ich, immer
Yet I love, yet I hope unceasingly,
Ohne Liebe, ohne Hoffnung treu;
faithful, even without love or hope;
Lassen kann ich diese Liebe nimmer!
I can never forsake this love,
Mit ihr bricht das Herz entzwei!
yet with it my heart breaks in two!
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
Josef Karl Bernard
Josef Karl Bernard was born in Horatitz, Bohemia, in 1780. He moved to Vienna in 1800 and worked as a journalist, writer and librettist. He was the editor of the journal Thalia, set up in 1784 by Friedrich Schiller and dedicated to the friends of…