Dear Minna
(Poet's title: Lieb Minna)
Set by Schubert:
D 222
[July 2, 1815]
“Schwüler Hauch weht mir herüber,
Welkt die Blum’ an meiner Brust –
Ach, wo weilst du, Wilhelm, Lieber?
Meiner Seele süße Lust!
Ewig Weinen,
Nie Erscheinen!
Schläfst wohl schon im kühlen Schoße,
Denkst auch mein noch unterm Moose?”
Minna weinet, es verflogen
Mählig Wang- und Lippenrot.
Wilhelm war hinausgezogen
Mit den Reihn zum Schlachtentod.
Von der Stunde
Keine Kunde!
Schläft wohl längst im kühlen Schoße,
Denkt dein, Minna unterm Moose.
Liebchen sitzt im stillen Harme,
Sieht die goldnen Sternlein ziehn,
Und der Mond schaut auf die Arme
Mitleidsvollen Blickes hin.
Horch, da wehen
Aus den Höhen
Abendlüftchen ihr herüber:
“Dort am Felsen harrt dein Lieber.”
Minna eilt im Mondenflimmer
Bleich und ahnend durch die Flur;
Findet ihren Wilhelm nimmer,
Findet seinen Hügel nur.
“Bin bald drüben
Bei dir Lieben,
Sagst mir aus dem kühlen Schoße:
Denk dein, Minna, unterm Moose.”
Und viel tausend Blümchen steigen
Freundlich aus dem Grab herauf.
Minna kennt die Liebeszeugen,
Bettet sich ein Plätzchen drauf.
“Bin gleich drüben
Bei dir Lieben” –
Legt sich auf die Blümchen nieder –
Findet ihren Wilhelm wieder. –
“A sultry breath is wafting over me,
The flower on my breast is wilting.
Oh where are you, Wilhelm, beloved?
My soul’s sweet delight!
To weep for ever,
Never to appear!
Are you already sleeping in the cool lap?
Do you also think of me under the moss?”
Minna is weeping; they have left her
Gradually, the red on her cheek and the red of her lips.
Wilhelm had set off
With his troops to die in battle.
Since that hour
There has been no news!
He has already been sleeping for a long time in the cool womb.
He is thinking of you, Minna, under the moss.
The lover is sitting in calm grief,
Watching the little gold star pass by,
And the moon beholds the poor woman
With a look of compassion.
Listen, wafting up there
Out of the heights
Evening breezes are blowing over her;
There on the rocks your lover is waiting for you.
Minna hurries in the shimmer of the moon,
Pale and full of foreboding, across the fields.
She never finds her William,
She only finds the mound of his grave.
“I am now above you
With you my love.
You speak to me out of the cool womb:
I am thinking of you, Minna, under the moss.”
And many thousands of little flowers rise
Up out of the grave, in a friendly way.
Minna knows the signs of love.
She makes a bed for herself there.
“I am now above you,
With you my love!”
She lies down on the little flowers
And finds her Wilhelm again.
All translations into English that appear on this website, unless otherwise stated, are by Malcolm Wren. You are free to use them on condition that you acknowledge Malcolm Wren as the translator and schubertsong.uk as the source. Unless otherwise stated, the comments and essays that appear after the texts and translations are by Malcolm Wren and are © Copyright.
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Themes and images in this text:
Breath and breathing Cheeks Chest / breast Evening and the setting sun Fading and losing colour Fields and meadows Flowers Gazes, glimpses and glances Going to bed Gold Graves and burials Hills and mountains Lap, womb (Schoß) Lips Lost and found Moss Mountains and cliffs Night and the moon Red and purple Sleep Soul Stars Sweetness Tears and crying War, battles and fighting Wind
‘Minna’ is the normal shortened form of the German name ‘Wilhelmine’, so this is the story of a woman looking for her ‘other half’, in this case Wilhelm. Since her name also evokes the old Germanic word for courtly love (about which the Minnesingers used to compose songs and poems) she is presented as the ultimate in devoted, faithful lovers.
Minna finds that she is nothing without Wilhelm. The flowers on her breast (presumably his gift to her) have wilted (as, she presumes, has he). Similarly, the colour has gone from her cheeks and her lips and she is ‘pale’ in the moonlight. However, as soon as she finds Wilhelm’s grave, living flowers return in abundance (even though we have just been informed that the grave is amongst the ‘rocks’). She can now settle down and join him in bed.
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Original Spelling Lieb Minna "Schwüler Hauch weht mir herüber, Welkt die Blum' an meiner Brust. Ach, wo weilst du, Wilhelm, Lieber? Meiner Seele süße Lust! Ewig Weinen, Nie Erscheinen! Schläfst wohl schon im kühlen Schooße, Denkst auch mein noch unterm Moose?" Minna weinet, es verflogen Mählig Wang- und Lippenroth. Wilhelm war hinausgezogen Mit den Reihn zum Schlachtentod. Von der Stunde Keine Kunde! Schläft wohl längst im kühlen Schooße, Denkt dein Minna unterm Moose. Liebchen sitzt im stillen Harme, Sieht die gold'nen Sternlein ziehn, Und der Mond schaut auf die Arme Mitleidsvollen Blickes hin. Horch, da wehen Aus den Höhen Abendlüftchen ihr herüber; Dort am Felsen harrt dein Lieber. Minna eilt im Mondenflimmer Bleich und ahnend durch die Flur, Findet ihren Wilhelm nimmer, Findet seinen Hügel nur. "Bin bald drüben Bei dir Lieben, Sagst mir aus dem kühlen Schooße: Denk' dein, Minna, unterm Moose." Und viel tausend Blümchen steigen Freundlich aus dem Grab herauf. Minna kennt die Liebeszeugen, Bettet sich ein Plätzchen drauf. "Bin gleich drüben Bei dir Lieben!" Legt sich auf die Blümchen nieder Findet ihren Wilhelm wieder.
Confirmed by Peter Rastl with a copy of Schubert’s manuscript, written by Stadler himself (University Library, Lund, Sweden)