In Other Words/The Translated Way

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The Translated Way

I
“Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’,
So schwindet all mein Leid und weh”

When I into your eyes do see
So goes away my woe from me,
And, too, when I your mouth do kiss
So gains my health a benefice.

When I upon your bosom lie
It comes o’er me like joy from sky,
And when you speak it: “I love thee!”
So must I weep quite bitterly.

II

“Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet.”

I have in a dream been weeping,
Medreamt thou didst lie underground,
Then wakened I up and the tears flowed
Still down from my cheek all around.

I have in a dream been weeping,
Medreamt thou didst me forget,
Then wakened I up, I continued
Crying long, bitterly yet.

I have in a dream been weeping,
Medreamt thou wert to me yet good,
Then wakened I up and still always
My tears did come down in flood.

III

“Hör ich das Liedchen klingen,
Das einst die Liebste sang,”

  Hear I the songlet singing
   That once the dearest sang,
  From out my breast upspringing
   There comes wild painful pang.

  Impels me one dark languish
   That high wood to attain,
  Dissolves in teardrops’ anguish
   My extraordinary pain.

IV

“Was will die einsame Thraene?”

What wants the teardrop single?
  She mists my glance with pains.
She back from olden times yet
  Within mine eye remains.

She had many glittering sisters
  Who all have taken flight,
With my torments and my gladnesses
  Dissolved they in wind and night.

Like clouds have disappeared, also,
  The diminutive stars so blue
That in every torment and gladness
  My heart would smile into.

Oh, likewise my love has vanished
  Like to a trifling sigh,
Though old, individual teardrop,
  Now too, disappear, pray I!