English translations of Fünf Lieder für vier Männerstimmen, opus 82

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is knocking on my little window?
Then the wind will say to you:
“I am! Oh, let me inside!
Your beloved is so anxious to be near you,
I bring you greetings, and kisses and song – 
Slumber sweetly!”

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is shining so brightly?”
Then the moon will say to you:
“I am! O, let me inside!
I come from the One, who is still awake,
Who prays for you every night,
Slumber sweetly!”

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is making such a sweet sound?”
Then a little bird will say to you:
“I am, the nightingale!
Of love and longing I sing lustily,
Until your eyes see the morning – 
Slumber sweetly!”

A gust of wind rushes in,
From where? From where?
Hear how it rustles in the treetops,
The pines! The pines!
Just an intense sound! – then quiet again
And the frost flutters downward.
What was that, my dear valley, what was that?
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon storms will roar and howl mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.

A beam of light flames bright across the sky,
From where? From where?
See how the tree tops glisten
The pines! The pines!
Only a sudden flash! – then darkness again
And the heavens gaze sadly downward.
What was that, my dear valley, what was that?
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon the sun will gleam and dazzle mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.

The snow is already retreating to the mountains
From there, from there,
Deep black, the winter calls defiance
To the pines, the pines.
Only a little more time! – Birdsong
Again will ring happy and joyfully.
Best wishes, my dear valley, best wishes!
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon the streams will gush and foam mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.