Three Songs , opus 53

At sixteen years she knew no care;
How could she, sweet and pure as light?
And there pursued her ev’rywhere
Butterflies, butterflies all white.

A lover looked—she dropped her eyes,
That glowed like pansies wet with dew,
And lo! there came from out the skies
Butterflies, butterflies all blue.

Before she guessed, her heart was gone;
The tale of love was swiftly told,
And all about her wheeled and shone
Butterflies of gold.

Then he forsook her one sad morn;
She wept and sobbed, “Oh love, come back!”
There only came to her forlorn,
Butterflies, butterflies all black.

Als die junge Rose blühte
Und die Nachtigall gesungen,
Hast du mich geherzt, geküsset,
Und mit Zärtlichkeit umschlungen.

Nun der Herbst die Ros entblättert
Und die Nachtigall vertrieben,
Bist du auch davon geflogen
Und ich bin allein geblieben.

Lang und kalt sind schon die Nächte -
Sag wie lange wirst du säumen?
Soll ich immer mich begnügen
Nur von altem Glück zu träumen?

Look off, dear Love, across the sallow sands,
And mark yon meeting of the sun and sea,
How long they kiss in sight of all the lands.
Ah! longer, longer, we.

Now in the sea's red vintage melts the sun,
As Egypt's pearl dissolved in rosy wine,
And Cleopatra night drinks all. 'Tis done,
Love, lay thine hand in mine.

Come forth, sweet stars, and comfort heaven's heart;
Glimmer, ye waves, round else unlighted sands.
O night! divorce our sun and sky apart
Never our lips, our hands.