Helft mir, ihr Schwestern

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern, 
Freundlich mich schmücken,
Dient der Glücklichen heute mir,
Windet geschäftig
Mir um die Stirne
Noch der blühenden Myrte Zier.

Als ich befriedigt,
Freudigen Herzens,
[Dem]1 Geliebten im Arme lag,
Immer noch rief er,
Sehnsucht im Herzen,
Ungeduldig den heutigen Tag.

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern,
Helft mir verscheuchen
Eine törichte Bangigkeit,
Daß ich mit klarem
Aug ihn empfange,
Ihn, die Quelle der Freudigkeit.

Bist, mein Geliebter,
Du mir erschienen,
Giebst du [Sonne, mir]2 deinen Schein?
Laß mich in Andacht,
Laß mich in Demut,
[Mich]3 verneigen dem Herren mein.

Streuet ihm, Schwestern,
Streuet ihm Blumen,
[Bringt]4 ihm knospende Rosen dar,
Aber euch, Schwestern,
Grüß ich mit Wehmut
Freudig scheidend aus eurer Schar.

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838) , no title, from Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Frauen-Liebe und Leben, no. 5

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe (1796-1869) , "Helft mir, ihr Schwestern", op. 60 no. 5 (1836), from Frauenliebe, Liederkranz von Chamisso, no. 5.
by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) , "Helft mir, ihr Schwestern", op. 42 no. 5, from Frauenliebe und Leben, no. 5.

ENG English (Daniel Platt)
ITA Italian (Amelia Maria Imbarrato)
FRE French (Pierre Mathé)
NOR Norwegian (Bokmål) (Marianne Beate Kielland)

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Notes about green, red, and white dots

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Help me, ye sisters

       Help me, ye sisters, 
       friendly, adorn me, 
       serve me, today's fortunate one, 
       busily wind 
       about my brow 
       the adornment of blooming myrtle. 
 
       Otherwise, gratified, 
       of joyful heart, 
       I would have lain in the arms of the beloved, 
       so he called ever out, 
       yearning in his heart, 
       impatient for the present day.
 
       Help me, ye sisters, 
       help me to banish 
       a foolish anxiety, 
       so that I may with clear 
       eyes receive him, 
       him, the source of joyfulness. 
 
       Dost, my beloved, 
       thou appear to me, 
       givest thou, sun, thy shine to me? 
       Let me with devotion, 
       let me in meekness, 
       let me curtsy before my lord. 
 
       Strew him, sisters, 
       strew him with flowers, 
       bring him budding roses, 
       but ye, sisters, 
       I greet with melancholy, 
       joyfully departing from your midst.

Translation from German to English copyright © by Daniel Platt, abelard2 (AT) aol (DOT) com, http://davidsbuendler.freehostia.com/davidsbuendler.htm, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. Please contact the copyright-holder when requesting permission to reprint.

a text in German by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838) , no title, from Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Frauen-Liebe und Leben, no. 5 NOR ITA FRE

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.