Heinrich Heine: The Two Brothers

Translated from the German by Edgar Alfred Bowring, 1861.

Set by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) , op. 49 no. 2.

“Die feindlichen Brüder.”

 

Up on the mountain summit darkling
Lies the castle, veil’d in night;
Lights are in the valley sparkling.
Clashing swords are gleaming bright.
.
Brothers ’tis who in fierce duel
Fight with wrath to fury fann’d,
Tell me why these brothers cruel
Strive thus madly, sword in hand?
.
By the eyes of Countess Laura
Were they thus in strife array’d;
Both with glowing love adore her
Her, the noble, beauteous maid.
.
Unto which now of the brothers
Is her heart the most inclined?
No musing can decide it;
Out, then, sword, the truth to find!
.
And they fight on with rage despairing,
Blows exchanged with savage might
Take good heed, you gallants daring
Mischief walks abroad by night.
.
Woe! Oh woe! Ye brothers cruel!
Woe! Oh woe! Thou vale abhorr’d!
Both fall victims in the duel,
Each upon the other’s sword.
.
Races are to dust converted,
Many centuries are flown;
And the castle, now deserted,
Sadly from the mount looks down.
.
But at night-time in the valley,
Wondrous forms appear again;
At the stroke of twelve
To the fight the brothers twain.