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O my love, let's make haste
O my love, let’s make haste
While we have time:
Delaying harms
Both of us.
The gifts of noble beauty
Flee step by step,
So everything we have
Will vanish.
Rosy cheeks fade,
Hair goes grey,
The eye´s fire dims,
The breast turns to ice.
The mouth´s coral lips
Lose their shape,
Hands decay like snow,
And you´ll grow old.
So let us now taste
The fruits of youth,
Before having to yield
To the flight of years.
Love me where
You love yourself.
By giving yourself to me,
I will lose myself in you.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Ach, Liebste, lass uns eilen by Johann Nauwach (1595-1630). Published in Teütscher Villanellen, Theil 1, (1627). Text by Martin Opitz, Ode VIII, from Oden und Gesänge (1618).
See the copyright notice below.
Ach, Liebste, lass uns eilen
Ach, Liebste, lass uns eilen,
Wir haben Zeit:
Es schadet das Verweilen
Uns beiderseit.
Der edlen Schönheit Gaben
Fliehn Fuss für Fuss,
Dass alles, was wir haben,
Verschwinden muss.
Der Wangen Zier verbleichet,
Das Haar wird greis,
Der Äuglein Feuer weichet,
Die Brust wird Eis.
Das Mündlein von Korallen
Wird ungestalt,
Die Hand als Schnee verfallen,
Und du wirst alt.
Drum lass uns jetzt geniessen
Der Jugend Frucht,
Eh denn wir folgen müssen
Der Jahre Flucht.
Wo du dich selber liebest,
So liebe mich,
Gib mir, dass, wann du gibest,
Verlier auch ich.
Recording. Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Markus Märkl (claviola), Karl-Ernst Schröder (lute).
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ZCivVAPJk
Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.
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