English translations of Tre sange, opus 4

See, the evening is so quiet; the sky is so blue!
All the flowers are now sleeping and all the little birds;
They're nodding and they're dreaming; do not disturb their joy.
For there a world is being built, even in the smallest breast.

In dreams the lark swoops in the fresh air,
And what each flower feels, it breathes out in the air.
The whole, wide world with its small worlds,
And all heaven's heavens indeed are in my heart.

I feel my eye now weeping; I swoon from joy;
I could blissfully press each creature to my breast!
See, all the stars are twinkling -- and the evening melts away;
-- Just let the storms arise and dress the night black,

Sleep sweetly and dream, you birds! -- just dream, you little flowers!
In the heart it is quiet, and there the sky is blue!

Hush, you beloved woman!
silently we must step, we two.
There sleeps a song inside
the forest's nighttime rest.

Quiet are waves and wind,
silent is the mouth of every little bird 
springs, keeping silent, run 
shiny over the mossy floor.

Moonbeams spill down
silently between the waves,
along the quiet paths 
a bright edge [of moonbeam] flashes [or: slumbers].

The silver cloud itself up there
rests on the wide wing, 
high above the treetops
looks down upon the one listening. 

Quiet are waves and wind,
silently we must step, we two.
There sleeps a song inside 
the forest's nighttime rest.

Round, round, round!
In a circle the whole thing goes around 
between cradle and grave with speed.
It goes up, it goes down, 
but I comfort myself with [the fact that]
I have won, when hardest I tried.

Round, round, round!
I perish, if I stand still,
and my wheel does not go easily.
[It would] rather break from wear 
in the impoverished time 
than be consumed by rust and by envy1. 

Round, round, round!
In a circle the whole thing goes around 
between cradle and grave with speed.
It goes up or down;
it goes around like a top,
until it breaks and then it says stop!