Chorus of youths: See, the conqu’ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. |
Sports prepare, the laurel bring, Songs of triumph to him sing. Sports prepare, the laurel bring, Songs of triumph to him sing. |
Chorus of virgins: See the godlike youth advance! Breathe the flutes, and lead the dance; See the godlike youth advance! Breathe the flutes, and lead the dance; |
Myrtle wreaths, and roses twine, To deck the hero’s brow divine. Myrtle wreaths, and roses twine, To deck the hero’s brow divine. |
Chorus: See, the conqu’ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. See, the conqu’ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. |
Sports prepare, the laurel bring, Songs of triumph to him sing. See, the conqu’ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. Thomas Morell (1703–1784) |
Original German | English translation |
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Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem Jägervergnügen? Wem sprudelt der Becher des Lebens so reich? Beim Klange der Hörner im Grünen zu liegen, Den Hirsch zu verfolgen durch Dickicht und Teich |
What pleasure on earth can compare with the hunter’s? Whose cup of life sparkles so richly? To lie in the verdure while the horns sound, To follow the stag through thicket and pond, |
Ist fürstliche Freude, ist männlich Verlangen Erstarket die Glieder und würzet das Mahl. Wenn Wälder und Felsen uns hallend umfangen, Tönt freier und freud’ger der volle Pokal! |
Is joy for a prince, is a real man’s desire, It strengthens your limbs and spices your food. When woods and rocks resound all about us, A full goblet sings a freer and happier song! |
Jo, ho! Tralala!... |
Yo ho! Tralala!... |
Diana ist kundig, die Nacht zu erhellen Wie labend am Tage ihr Dunkel uns kühlt. Den blutigen Wolf und den Eber zu fällen, Der gierig die grünenden Saaten durchwühlt |
Diana is present to brighten the night; Her darkness cools us like any refreshment in the day. To fell the bloody wolf, and the boar who greedily roots through the green crops, |
Ist fürstliche Freude, ist männlich Verlangen Erstarket die Glieder und würzet das Mahl. Wenn Wälder und Felsen uns hallend umfangen, Tönt freier und freud’ger der volle Pokal! |
Is joy for a prince, is real man’s desire, It strengthens your limbs and spices your food. When woods and rocks resound all about us, A full goblet sings a freer and happier song! |
Jo, ho! Tralala!... |
Yo, ho! Tralala!... translation: opera-guide.ch |
Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, Long long ago, long long ago:
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,Long long ago, long ago.
Now you are come all my grief is remov’d,Let me forget that so long you have rov’d, Let me believe that you love as you lov’d, Long long ago, long ago.
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Do you remember the path where we met, Long long ago, long long ago?
Ah yes you told me you ne’er would forget,Long long ago, long ago.
Then to all others my smile you prefer’d,Love when you spoke gave a charm to each word, Still my heart treasures the praises I heard, Long long ago, long ago.
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Though by your kindness my fond hopes were rais’d, Long long ago, long long ago,
You by more eloquent lips have been prais’d,Long long ago, long ago.
But by long absence your truth has been tried,Still to your accents I listen with pride, Blest as I was when I sat by your side Long long ago, long ago.
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Original German | English translation |
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Nach Frankreich zogen zwei Grenadier’, Die waren in Rußland gefangen. Und als sie kamen ins deutsche Quartier, Sie ließen die Köpfe hangen. |
Two grenadiers were marching back to France They had been held captive in Russia, And when they reached German lands They hung their heads in shame. |
Da hörten sie beide die traurige Mär: Daß Frankreich verloren gegangen, Besiegt und geschlagen das tapfere Heer— Und der Kaiser, der Kaiser gefangen. |
For here they learnt the sorry tale That France had been conquered in war, Her valiant army beaten and shattered, And the Emperor, the Emperor captured. |
Da weinten zusammen die Grenadier’ Wohl ob der kläglichen Kunde. Der eine sprach: Wie weh wird mir, Wie brennt meine alte Wunde! |
The grenadiers then wept together, As they heard of these sad tidings. The first said: “Ah, the agony; How my old wound is burning!” |
Der andre sprach: Das Lied ist aus, Auch ich möcht mit dir sterben, Doch hab ich Weib und Kind zu Haus, Die ohne mich verderben. |
The second said: “This is the end; If only we could die together. But I’ve a wife and child at home, And they would perish without me.” |
Was schert mich Weib, was schert mich Kind, Ich trage weit beß’res Verlangen; Laß sie betteln gehn, wenn sie hungrig sind,— Mein Kaiser, mein Kaiser gefangen! |
“To hell with wife, to hell with child, My aims are for far higher things; Let them beg, if they’ve nothing to eat— My Emperor, my Emperor captured! |
Gewähr mir, Bruder, eine Bitt’: Wenn ich jetzt sterben werde, So nimm meine Leiche nach Frankreich mit, Begrab’ mich in Frankreichs Erde. |
“Grant me, brother, one request, If I am now to die. Take my corpse with you to France; Bury me in French soil. |
Das Ehrenkreuz am roten Band Sollst du aufs Herz mir legen; Die Flinte gib mir in die Hand, Und gürt’ mir um den Degen. |
“You shall lay upon my heart The Cross of Valour with its red ribbon; And place my musket in my hand And gird my sword about me. |
So will ich liegen und horchen still, Wie eine Schildwach’, im Grabe, Bis einst ich höre Kanonengebrüll Und wiehernder Rosse Getrabe. |
“So I shall lie and listen Like a silent sentry in my grave, Until I hear the cannons’ roar And the horses gallop and neigh. |
Dann reitet mein Kaiser wohl über mein Grab, Viel Schwerter klirren und blitzen; Dann steig’ ich gewaffnet hervor aus dem Grab,— Den Kaiser, den Kaiser zu schützen. Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) |
“That will be my Emperor riding by my grave; Swords will be clashing and flashing; And armed, I’ll rise up from the grave To defend the Emperor, my Emperor!” translation: Richard Stokes © 2001 |