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Text & Translation

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Zueignung
German source: Hermann von Gilm

Ja, du weißt es, teure Seele,
Daß ich fern von dir mich quäle, Liebe macht die Herzen krank,
Habe Dank.

Einst hielt ich, der Freiheit Zecher,
Hoch den Amethysten-Becher,
Und du segnetest den Trank,
Habe Dank.

Und beschworst darin die Bösen,
Bis ich, was ich nie gewesen,
Heilig, heilig an’s Herz dir sank,
Habe Dank!

Dedication
English translation © Richard Stokes

Yes, dear soul, you know
That I’m in torment far from you,
Love makes hearts sick –
Be thanked.

Once, revelling in freedom,
I held the amethyst cup aloft
And you blessed that draught –
Be thanked.

And you banished the evil spirits,
Till I, as never before,
Holy, sank holy upon your heart –
Be thanked.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Zueignung
German source: Hermann von Gilm

Dedication
English source: Richard Stokes

Ja, du weißt es, teure Seele,
Yes, dear soul, you know
Daß ich fern von dir mich quäle, Liebe macht die Herzen krank,
That I’m in torment far from you,
Habe Dank.
Love makes hearts sick –

Einst hielt ich, der Freiheit Zecher,
Once, revelling in freedom,
Hoch den Amethysten-Becher,
I held the amethyst cup aloft
Und du segnetest den Trank,
And you blessed that draught –
Habe Dank.
Be thanked.

Und beschworst darin die Bösen,
And you banished the evil spirits,
Bis ich, was ich nie gewesen,
Till I, as never before,
Heilig, heilig an’s Herz dir sank,
Holy, sank holy upon your heart –
Habe Dank!
Be thanked.

Composer

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.  Read more here.

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