English translations of Drei Gedichte für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 34

Thus to walk alone with you,
Most beloved, the old familiar paths
Through the green, leafy enclosures:
Nothing sweeter can happen to me.

Deep forest shadows beckon
And the sunny meadow, too,
To imbibe new life here
At the well-springs of nature.

There is a quiet soughing in the trees
And a gently breeze in the grasses,
And we walk as in a dream
Silently through the glory of springtime.

Though our lips are closed,
I nevertheless know: as the magic
Has inundated me,
Sweetheart, it has also inundated you.

Night, into your dark shadows
Take him up, the battle-weary one!
In the springtimes,
Ah, then one battles for wreaths!
Now unto death
The wooing
Of the fleeting favour of fortune,
Form of foam and foggy mist,
Has wearied my soul!
As you near upon quiet pinions,
I am suffused with a yearning:
To be released from everything that holds me,
From all pain and all pleasure of the world,
To be wafted away from
All thought, all feeling, striving,
To be absorbed into you, Mother Night.

Through snow flurries, through the dance of snowflakes
Who comes a-walking there?
The dear eyes, they sparkle in a joyful radiance[,]
The cheeks are suffused with a gladsome glow;
Already I hear it sounding up to the window:
Unlock your door, your heart unlock,
My most beloved!

She shakes and twirls herself in a circle,
The snowflakes, they fly:
With a faithful and secret alliance, the god Amor
Helped me to vanquish winter.
She throws off the coat, the befeathered hat:
How my heart beats with springtime audacity,
My most beloved!

And through the clouds a sunbeam
Sweeps brightly downward.
That is springtime, it swings itself into the valley
Upon glorious golden pinions!
Bridal wreath in the glow of spring,
Now everything is coming up violets and rosemary,
My most beloved!