Wie die Wellenschaumgeborene
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Strahlt mein Lieb im Schönheitsglanz,
Denn sie ist das auserkorene
Bräutchen eines fremden Manns.
Herz, mein Herz, du vielgeduldiges,
Grolle nicht ob dem Verrat;
Trag es, trag es, und entschuldig es,
Was die holde Törin tat.
Like the foam-born child of ocean
English translation ©
Hal Draper
Shines my love in beauty’s pride,
For she’s won her heart’s devotion,
Chosen to be a stranger’s bride.
Heart, my heart, hold fast and harden –
Do not complain though she’s untrue;
Bear it, bear it – even pardon
What a pretty fool can do.
Translations by Hal Draper published by Oxford University Press and Suhrkamp/Insel Verlag (1984)
Wie die Wellenschaumgeborene
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Like the foam-born child of ocean
English source:
Hal Draper
Wie die Wellenschaumgeborene
Like the foam-born child of ocean
Strahlt mein Lieb im Schönheitsglanz,
Shines my love in beauty’s pride,
Denn sie ist das auserkorene
For she’s won her heart’s devotion,
Bräutchen eines fremden Manns.
Chosen to be a stranger’s bride.
Herz, mein Herz, du vielgeduldiges,
Heart, my heart, hold fast and harden –
Grolle nicht ob dem Verrat;
Do not complain though she’s untrue;
Trag es, trag es, und entschuldig es,
Bear it, bear it – even pardon
Was die holde Törin tat.
What a pretty fool can do.
Composer
Poet
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…