Category Archives: Friedrich von Sallet


Friedrich von Sallet: “Nightingale and Rose”

Excerpt, “Gems of German Lyrics:  Consisting of Selections from Ruckert, Lenau, Chamisso, Freiligrath and Others.”  Translated into English Verse by Henry D. Wireman.  1869.

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NIGHTINGALE AND ROSE

 

The Nightingale

 

Sang with sweetness in the vale,

Thus, the pretty Nightingale:–

“Oh, so fair and wondrous sweet

Art thou, Rose, in thy retreat!

Blowing,

Glowing,

Fragrance throwing.

 

I, in what my heart abounds,

Must pour out in fleeting sounds,

Which are borne with mighty sway

On the wings of zephyrs light;

Soon are they

Far away

In their flight.

 

Oh, that I, what will not stay,

Only could in form array!

Never then should cease, as now,

Sounds which swell this heart of mine:

They should shine

Bright as thou,

Blowing,

Glowing,

Fragrance throwing.

 

Every note a leaf or spray,

Every song a rose of May!

Therefore, Rose, I love but thee

Sincerely!”

 

The Rose

 

Rose then, wafting fragrance pure,

Softly whispered, shy, demure:–

“Oh, how sweetly, Nightingale,

Singest thou o’er hill and dale!

Clearly,

Dearly,

Sweet, sincerely,

That which fills me with delight,

That which makes me glow so bright,

Gently through the zephyr sighs,

Fades away,

’Twill not stay,

Soon it dies.

 

What is born without a tone,

Soon forgotten, hardly known,

What my heart to please is fain:–

Could I loud and clear it sing,

It should ring,

Like thy strain,

Clearly,

Dearly,

Sweet, sincerely.

 

Fragrance—song of Nightingale

Warbling over hill and dale!

Nightingale, I love but thee

Sincerely!”