Who is wandering through the garden
By the pale light of the stars?
Is there sweetness waiting for him?
Shall the night bring him bliss?
Ah! it is the harper, he sinks
Down at the foot of the tower,
Where, late at night, something glitters down from above,
And begins with a greeting from his strings:
 
"Listen, maiden, from on high
To a song that is dedicated to you!
In order that a dream from the rosy time of childhood
May gently waft about you.
With the sounding of the evening bell
I came, I shall leave before daybreak
And I shall not see in the sunshine
That castle whence I sprung.
 
I remained far away from the hall,
Bright with candles, in which you sat enthroned,
Where about you at the rich feast
Noble lords sat happily.
Familiar only with happiness,
They would have wished for something joyful,
Would not have honoured the lamenting tones of love,
Not the rights of childhood.
 
Anxious twilight, be gone!
Drab trees, shine anew!
So that I may be happy
In the magical kingdom of my childhood.
I wish to sink into the clover,
Until the child with light steps
Comes hither, the beautiful fairy,
And showers me with flowers.
 
Yes, time has flown past,
But remembrance never passes;
As a bright rainbow
It stands upon the dismal clouds.
My sweet pain flees from scrutiny,
So that remembrance does not vanish.
Only tell me this, does your heart
Still feel the joy of childhood?"
 
And the son of songs fell silent,
He who sat at the base of the tower;
And from the window above there came a sound,
And something gleamed in the dark grass.
"Take the ring and think of me,
Think of the beauty of our childhood!
Take it! a precious stone
Gleams upon it and a tear."