Before reunion and avoidance now
Confuse me, excite me,
Let me once more diffidently
Lay my heart at your feet. 
If you wish to show yourself merciful to me,
Oh then be so kind as to give me one thing:
Hold my humble inclination
In faithful remembrance!
Not a consuming yearning,
Not a pain-filled languishing,
But rather a flaming adoration
I take with me in my heart.
Consecrate the weapons of my spirit,
Let me bear your colours,
Let me work enthusiastically to your glory,
Dare to create something beautiful in your honour!
You, at whose hand I, with trembling,
First set foot upon the pathway of the beautiful,
Be the consecration to my life,
Be the muse to my tones!
May you find enjoyment in my song,
May every one of my songs chime to your benefit,
Then my parting shall be a remaining,
And my wandering an arrival. 
Let joy glow forth from pain,
Let me draw the lot of happiness in parting;
Let the life-flowers that fade
Become roses of remembrance!