The warring Brothers - Drachenwolke

The warring brothers ist eine Übersetzung des Gedichtes die Zwei Brüder bzw. Die feindlichen Brüder von Heinrich Heine

High on the mountain summit
stands the castle, veiled in night;
But in the valley lightning flashes,
bright swords fiercely clash.

Brothers are fighting there,
rage-inflamed, a dreadful duel.
Pray, why are those brothers fighting,
each of them with sword in hand?

Countess Laura’s sparkling eyes
kindled the brothers’ quarrel;
Both burn with love and passion
for that sweet and noble maid.

But to which of them
does her heart incline?
No pondering can resolve it—
Out, then, sword, let you decide!

And bold and rash they do battle,
blow upon blow crashes down.
Beware, O savage warriors,
night brings cruel strokes of fortune.

Alack, alack now, bloody brothers!
Alack, alack now, bloody vale!
Both fighters are felled,
each by the other’s sword.

Many centuries pass,
many generations die away;
Sadly from the mountain heights
the castle, desolate, looks down.

But at night, deep in the valley,
a secret wonder comes about;
At the first stroke of midnight,
still the brothers fight it out.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Quelle: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/474