The Lied and Art Song Texts Page

Wozu noch, Mädchen, soll es frommen

Language: German

Wozu noch, Mädchen, soll es frommen,
daß du vor mir Verstellung übst?
Heiß froh das neue Glück willkommen,
und sag es offen, daß du liebst!

An deines Busens höherm Schwellen,
dem Wangenrot, das kommt und geht,
ward dein Geheimnis von den Quellen,
den Blumengeistern längst erspäht;

die Wogen murmeln's in den Grotten,
es flüstert's leis der Abendwind,
wo du vorbeigehst, hörst du's spotten:
Wir wissen es seit langem, Kind!


Authorship

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

    * by Richard Georg Strauss (1864-1949) , "Wozu noch, Mädchen, soll es frommen", op. 19 (Sechs Lieder aus "Lotosblätter" von Aldolf Friedrich Graf von Schack) no. 1.
Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Say, wherefore vainly wouldst dissemble?

Language: English

Say, wherefore, vainly wouldst dissemble?
Thine actions all thy words disprove!
Rejoice, and bid thy fortune welcome,
confess, sweet maiden, thou art in love!

Behold, thy heart is beating faster,
thy cheeks now pale erst blushed so fair,
thy fond, sweet secret, sad disaster!
they've told to brook and flow'ret fair,

the brooklet told it to the river,
'tis whisper'd low at day's retreat,
which way thou turnest soft winds murmur:
We know thy heart's fond secret sweet!


Input by Harry Joelson

Authorship
    * Singable translation by John Bernhoff , "Say, wherefore vainly wouldst dissemble?", published 1897 [setting text not yet verified]
Based on

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

    [ None yet in the database ]


Date added to the website: 2008-12-06.