Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! (Look not, love, on my work unended!)
Look not into my songs!
My eyes I lower,
as if I've been caught in an evil deed.
I can't even trust myself
to watch them grow.
Your curiosity is a betrayal!
Bees, when they build their cells,
also do not let anyone observe them;
even themselves.
When the rich honeycombs
are brought out to the light of day,
then you shall taste them before everyone else!
Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft (I breathed the breath of blossoms red)
I breathed a gentle fragrance!
In the room stood
a sprig of linden,
a gift
from a dear hand.
How lovely was the fragrance of linden!
How lovely is the fragrance of linden!
That twig of linden
you broke off so gently!
Softly I breathe in
the fragrance of linden,
the gentle fragrance of love.
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (O garish world, long since thou hast lost me)
I am lost to the world
with which I used to waste so much time,
It has heard nothing from me for so long
that it may very well believe that I am dead!
It is of no consequence to me
Whether it thinks me dead;
I cannot deny it,
for I really am dead to the world.
I am dead to the world's tumult,
And I rest in a quiet realm!
I live alone in my heaven,
In my love and in my song.
Um Mitternacht (At midnight hour)
At midnight
I awoke
and gazed up to heaven;
No star in the entire mass
did smile down at me
at midnight.
At midnight
I projected my thoughts
out past the dark barriers.
No thought of light
brought me comfort
at midnight.
At midnight
I paid close attention
to the beating of my heart;
One single pulse of agony
flared up
at midnight.
At midnight
I fought the battle,
o Mankind, of your suffering;
I could not decide it
with my strength
at midnight.
At midnight
I surrendered my strength
into your hands!
Lord! over death and life
You keep watch
at midnight!
Liebst du um Schönheit (Lovest thou but beauty)
If you love for beauty,
Oh do not love me!
Love the sun,
It has gold hair!
If you love for youth,
Oh do not love me!
Love the spring-time
That is young each year!
If you love for wealth,
Oh do not love me!
Love the mermaid,
[Who] has many limpid pearls!
If you love for love,
Oh yes, love me!
Love me forever;
I will love you forevermore!
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