This is the town she’s long since left,But the house is here in the selfsame place.A man’s there too, who stands and stares,And wrings his hands, in violent pain:When I see his look it makes me scared –The moonlight shows my face again.You doppel-gänger! You pallid creature!Why do you act that torment through,Love, torturing me…
Sister and father and motherKnew me, and welcomed me in.They asked me how I was faring,And said, as I entered the place,That I wasn’t changed a bit, justA little thin in the face.I asked after aunts and cousins,After many a tiresome one,And asked how their little dog,With its soft little bark had done.And I asked…
I gaze on thee, and sadnessComes stealing o’er my heart.My hands I fain had foldedUpon thy soft brown hair,Praying that God may keep theeSo lovely, pure and fair.
‘O to be a bachelor!’Pluto now forever sighs.‘In my marriage miseries,I perceive, without a wifeHell was not a hell before.‘O to be a bachelor!Since my Proserpine is mine,Daily for my grave I pine,When she raileth I can hearBarking Cerberus no more.‘My poor heart needs rest and ease,In the realm of shades I cry,-No lost soul…
Von süßen Lippen und von bittrer Rede,Von düst’rer Lieder düster’n Melodie’n.Verblichen und verweht sind längst die Träume,Verweht ist auch mein liebstes Traumgebild!Geblieben ist mir nur was gluterfülltIch einst gegossen hab’ in weiche Reime.Du bliebst, verwaistes Lied! Verweh’ jetzt auch,Und such’ das Traumbild, das mir längst entschwunden,Und grüße mir’s, wenn du es aufgefunden, —Dem luft’gen Schatten…
I only trust your eyes now,They’re my heavenly lights.I don’t believe in God above,Who gets the preacher’s nod:I only trust your heart now,And have no other god.I don’t believe in Devils,In hell or hell’s black art:I only trust your eyes now,And your devil’s heart.
Passionate eyes, and forehead coveredWith heavy waves of thick, black tresses.You are the very one I’ve searched forIn many lands, in every weather.You are my sort; you understand me;As equals we can talk together.In me you’ve found the man you care for.And, for a while, you’ll richly pay meWith kindness, kisses and endearments–And then, as…
That in my soul, flame-quiet,I’ve borne this many a day!It thrills through every hearingAnd so the heart doth gain.I’ve conjured up, unfearing,The thousand-year-old pain.Great, little, weep and evenCold hearts do tearful grow :The small stars weep in heaven,The maids and flowers below.The tears, still southward fleeting,To the still conclave goAnd all, each other meeting,Into the…
And still we sat in the lonely hut,In silence and alone.The sea-fog grew, the screaming mewRose on the water’s swell,And silently in her gentle eyeGathered the tears and fell.I saw them stand on the lily hand,Upon my knee I sank,And, kneeling there, from her fingers fairThe precious dew I drank.And sense and power, since that…
That I once possessed you,Your body, and your soul.I still want your body,That body young and true,They can bury your soul, love,I’ve soul enough for two.I’ll cut my soul in pieces,And breathe half into you,And hug you: we must be, yes,One soul and body too.
