Wehe, so willst Du mich wieder
German source:
Platen, August von
Hemmende Fessel, umfangen?
Auf, und hinaus in die Luft!
Ströme der Seele Verlangen,
Ström es in brausende Lieder,
Saugend ätherischen Duft!
Strebe dem Wind nur entgegen,
Daß er die Wange dir kühle,
Grüße den Himmel mit Lust!
Werden sich bange Gefühle
Im Unermesslichen regen?
Atme den Feind aus der Brust!
Alas, Would You Once Again
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Enchain me, restraining fetters?
Up and out into the open!
Pour out the soul’s longing,
Pour it into impassioned songs,
Absorbing ethereal fragrance!
Struggle into the teeth of the wind,
That it may cool your cheeks,
Greet the heavens with joy!
Can you feel anxiety,
When confronted by the infinite universe?
Breathe out the foe from your breast!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Wehe, so willst Du mich wieder
German source:
Platen, August von
Alas, Would You Once Again
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wehe, so willst du mich wieder,
Alas, would you once again
Hemmende Fessel, umfangen?
Enchain me, restraining fetters?
Auf, und hinaus in die Luft!
Up and out into the open!
Ströme der Seele Verlangen,
Pour out the soul’s longing,
Ström es in brausende Lieder,
Pour it into impassioned songs,
Saugend ätherischen Duft!
Absorbing ethereal fragrance!
Strebe dem Wind nur entgegen,
Struggle into the teeth of the wind,
Daß er die Wange dir kühle,
That it may cool your cheeks,
Grüße den Himmel mit Lust!
Greet the heavens with joy!
Werden sich bange Gefühle
Can you feel anxiety,
Im Unermesslichen regen?
When confronted by the infinite universe?
Atme den Feind aus der Brust!
Breathe out the foe from your breast!
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
Poet
Platen, August von
August von Platen was born on 24 October 1796 at Ansbach, the son of the Oberforstmeister (a senior public servant) of that state, Count Philipp August von Platen-Hallermünde, by second wife Baroness Christiane Eichler von Auriz. Shortly after his…