Songs

Ó, naší lásce nekvete, 'Oh, that longed-for happiness'

by Antonín Dvořák From Písně Milostné (Love Songs) (1888) Op. 83 xii. 1888

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Text & Translation

Ó, naší lásce nekvete, 'Oh, that longed-for happiness'
Czech source: Gustav Pfleger-Moravský

Ó, naší lásce nekvete
to vytoužené štěstí.
A kdyby kvetlo, a kdyby kvetlo, nebude
dlouho, dlouho kvésti.

Proč by se slza v ohnivé
polibky vekrádala?
Proč by mne v plné lásce své
ouzkostně objímala?

O, trpké je to loučení,
kde naděj nezahyne.
Tu srdce cítí ve chvění,
že brzo, ach, brzo bídně zhyne.

Oh, that longed-for happiness does not bloom for our love
English translation © David Beveridge

Oh, that longed-for happiness
does not bloom for our love;
and if it would bloom, in this world
it would not bloom for long.

Why would a tear
steal into fiery kisses?
Why would you embrace me
in your full love with anxiety?

Oh, bitter is that parting
where hope does not beckon:
the heart then feels, trembling,
that soon in misery it will die.

Ó, naší lásce nekvete, 'Oh, that longed-for happiness'
Czech source: Gustav Pfleger-Moravský

Oh, that longed-for happiness does not bloom for our love
English source: David Beveridge

Ó, naší lásce nekvete
Oh, that longed-for happiness
to vytoužené štěstí.
does not bloom for our love;
A kdyby kvetlo, a kdyby kvetlo, nebude
and if it would bloom, in this world
dlouho, dlouho kvésti.
it would not bloom for long.

Proč by se slza v ohnivé
Why would a tear
polibky vekrádala?
steal into fiery kisses?
Proč by mne v plné lásce své
Why would you embrace me
ouzkostně objímala?
in your full love with anxiety?

O, trpké je to loučení,
Oh, bitter is that parting
kde naděj nezahyne.
where hope does not beckon:
Tu srdce cítí ve chvění,
the heart then feels, trembling,
že brzo, ach, brzo bídně zhyne.
that soon in misery it will die.

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…

Performances

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