Brahms in Translation

Here are English translations for the two German songs from Brahms' MARIENLIEDER:

#3
The holy virgin Mary set off,
A long way from home,
Until she found God the Lord!

She did find him,
In front of Herodes' house,
And he looked oh so pitiful.

He had the cross to bear
All the way to the city of Jerusalem,
Where he was to be tortured.

What was he wearing on his head?
A crown of thorns, so sharp,
Adding to his burden, the cross.

That's what you should never forget,
You be young or old,
That even the Kingdom of heaven
suffers from brute force.

#4
1. A good hunter wished to go hunting–to go hunting from the heights of heaven;
What should he come across upon the heath? Mary, the lovely Virgin.

2. The hunter that I mean is well known to us;
He hunts with an angel–Gabriel is his name.

3. The angel blew his little horn, that rang out so well:
Greetings to you, Mary, you are full of grace!

4. Greetings to you, Mary, noble and pretty maiden!
Your womb will nourish and carry a child tender and small.

5. Your womb will nourish and carry a child tender and small.
who shall win over both Heaven and Earth.

6. Mary the Pure fell upon her knees
and prayed to God in Heaven that His will would be done.

7. Your will shall be done without especial torment and pain.
She then conceived Jesus Christ in her virginal heart.