The music of Schumann is affected by the feebleness of the poem. The melodies which follow “J’ai pardonné” are inferior to the preceding ones. It is only towards the end that the musician escapes from the material hindrances of the subject; the air gains in freedom, the harmonies in richness; the poor
poet recovers some of his first accents when he sings: “It is that it contains my joy, my sorrow, and my love.”
“A Woman’s Love.” Here is a little poem far superior to the preceding. The author is Adalbert de Chamisso, well known for his Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl. This time poet and musician identify themselves with each other marvellously, and Schumann lives and breathes in every verse of the poet.
In the first song the young girl owns her love:
“Have I, then, had a dream?
But him I see!
* * * * *
What makes me tremble thus,
And takes my sleep from me,
And makes my heart beat fast?