BEETHOVEN - To the distant beloved (Song Cycle)
1.
On a hillside I sit gazing
at the blue and hazy land,
thinking of the distant meadows
where we wandered hand in hand
Now so far from you beloved,
hills and valleys lie between
us and our devotion,
and our joys and all our pain.
Ah! you cannot see the longing
which is burning in my eyes,
and my sighs are widely scattered
in the space that between us lies.
Then will nothing ever reach you,
can loves messenger not say.
Will you hear my songs lamenting,
songs of anguish and dismay.
And yet time and distance vanish
to the strains of lover's songs,
and a loving heart can reach out
where a loving heart belongs.
2.
Where the mountains so blue
from the grey mists arise,
that's what I see.
Where the sun fades from view,
where the clouds sail the skies,
there I would be.
In the valley of peace
pain and sorrow will cease,
and in the rocks silent primroses know
where the soft breezes blow,
there I would go.
To the dark brooding wood,
urged by love's violent mood
feeling my pain.
Ah! its here I would bide,
if she were by my side,
mine to remain.
3.
Light clouds sailing in the heavens,
little streamlet fast and free,
greet my sweetheart if you see her,
many thousand times from me.
Then o clouds, if you should see her,
walking sadly in the vale,
let my image rise before her
in the air through which you sail.
If you see her in the garden,
now that Autumn pales the leaves,
tell her little birds my troubles,
tell her how my heart still grieves.
Calm west wind bring on your breezes,
send them to my heart's desire,
and my sighing soon will vanish
like the sunset's dying fire.
Whisper all my love beseeching
little streamlet as you go,
and upon your rippling surface,
countless tears to her will flow.
4.
All the clouds on high above me,
merry birds that fill the sky,
if you see my gracious dear one,
take me with you as you fly.
Oh west wind so gladly playing
round her cheeks and breasts divine
in her silken hair to nestle,
could such joy be also mine.
From the hills the busy stream
is flowing quickly on its way,
should you catch her sweet reflection,
flow back here without delay.
5.
The Maytime is here with the meadows bloom,
the mild breezes blow with a fragrant perfume,
and babbling the streamlets are flowing.
The swallow returns to the roof she knows best,
and eagerly fashions the soft bridle nest,
for there shall love be dwelling
They criss-cross the sky as they fly overhead
to gather soft down for a new bridal bed,
to give needed warmth for the young ones.
She's paired to her mate In a faithful display,
what winter divided is joined now by May,
as all things by love are united.
The Maytime is here with the meadows in bloom,
the mild breezes blow with a fragrant perfume.
Why then do I have to remain here"?
When Spring has united the faithful and true,
then why has the Spring not returned me to you,
rewarding us only with weeping.
6.
Take then, take these songs I'm singing,
share in them the love I found,
sing them In the quiet evening
to the lute's sweet sound.
When the twilight glow has faded
on the lake so blue, so still.
As its last dim rays are shaded,
as it sinks behind the hill.
And you sing the songs I'm singing
from a full and simple heart,
from a heart that knows such longing
conscious only of its love.
Then before us all Is yielding
to the sound of lover's songs,
and a loving heart can reach out
where a loving heart belongs.