Gefühl und Verstand [English translation]

Marie Antoinette:

I long to have you completely.

And without this fear that someone will see us.

I live only in the dreams, when you are by me.

And every parting is a small death.

Hans Axel von Fersen:

I flee from my hopes and wishes

And in essence run away from myself.

An ocean will soon lie between you and me

The escape to anywhere leads nowhere.

My feelings1 say: I belong to you,

But my mind2 tells me: It cannot be.

Marie:

My feelings say: If I lose you,

I’ll be completely alone.3

Axel:

This feeling hates every pretence,4

Marie:

It wants to shake them off5

Axel:

But I know the truth:

Both:

You will never belong to me.

Axel:

I don’t want to go on remembering each day…

Marie:

Don’t leave me here!6

Axel:

…that my dreams are unattainable.7

Marie:

I am helpless8 when you kiss me.

Axel:

I tear myself away from everything that matters to me…

Marie:

Better (for) us to see each other in darkness than not at all.9

Axel:

…and wish I was blind to your tears.

Marie:

I won’t let you go!10

Both:

My feelings say: I belong to you,

But my mind tells me: It cannot be.

My feelings say: If I lose you,

I’ll be completely alone.

This feeling hates every pretence,

It wants to shake them off.

But I know the truth:

You will never belong to me.

1. I would have translated this as “my heart says”, but the idea of “feeling” is picked up later and requires the literal translation of “Gefühl” (ie; as “feeling”) here for the latter part to make sense. Also, “Gefühl” here is singular, but I feel (I’m hilarious) that the plural makes more sense in English2. or “reason” or “understanding”, I chose to translate it as "mind" because its more poetic.3. ”überall” literally means “over all” as in “anywhere/everywhere”. The sentiment is that without him there will be no-one anywhere in the world who understands her.4. literally “hypocrisy”5. literally “struggle (against) it and outrage it”, ‘outrage’ because their love is forbidden, hence shaking off the pretence of indifference would be fighting and shocking society (especially considering the secrets and intrigue inherent to the rest of their world)6. literally “don’t leave me here behind”7. literally “unrealisable” as in “my dreams will never be realised”8. literally “I am lost”9. literally “than absolutely no more”10. literally “I don’t let you go”