Er, der Herrlichste von allen

Texts by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838)

Set by Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe (1796-1869), op. 60, #2, from Frauenliebe, Liederkranz von
Chamisso; Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856), from Frauenliebe und Leben, op. 42, #2

Er, der Herrlichste von allen,

    
He, the most-wonderful of all,

Wie so milde, wie so gut!

     
how so gentle, how so good!

Holde Lippen, klares Auge,

   
lovely lips, clear eye,

Heller Sinn und fester Mut.

    
bright mind and steadfast resolve/courage.

So wie dort in blauer Tiefe,

     
Just as there in blue depths,
(Just as in the blue depths of heaven)

Hell und herrlich, jener Stern,

    
bright and glorious, that star,
(the sun shines bright and glorious,)

Also er an meinem Himmel,

    
likewise he-(is) in my heaven,

Hell und herrlich, hehr und fern.

     
bright and glorious, lofty and distant.

Wandle, wandle deine Bahnen,

   
Go, go your way,

Nur betrachten deinen Schein,

   
only to-observe your radiance,

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Nur in Demut ihn betrachten,
    
only in humility it to-observe,

Selig nur und traurig sein!

    
blissful only and sad to-be!
(is to be blissful and yet sad!)

Höre nicht mein stilles Beten,

    
Hear not my silent prayer,

Deinem Glücke nur geweiht;

   
to-your happiness only is-dedicated;
(which to your happiness alone is dedicated;)

Darfst mich, niedre Magd, nicht kennen,

     
you-must me, lowly maid, not know,

Hoher Stern der Herrlichkeit!

   
lofty star of glory!

Nur die Würdigste von allen

    
Only the worthiest-woman of all

Darf beglücken deine Wahl,

   
may make-happy as-your choice,
(should be made happy by your choice,)

Und ich will die Hohe segnen,

     
and I will (that) exalted-one bless,

Segnen viele tausendmal.

  
bless many thousand-times.

Will mich freuen dann und weinen,

     
I-will myself rejoice then and weep,

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Selig, selig bin ich dann;
    
blissful, blissful am I then;

Sollte mir das Herz auch brechen,

     
shall me the heart also break,
(and should my heart also break,)

Brich, O Herz, was liegt daran?

     
break, oh heart, what lies in-it?
(let it break, what does it matter?)

(Literal translation and IPA transcription © 2007 by Bard Suverkrop—IPA Source, LLC)

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