English translations of Four songs, opus 29

by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906)

1. Matin Song
 (Sung text)
by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), "Matin Song", op. 29 (Four songs) no. 1
Language: English 
I let the dearest dream depart
That night to love revealed,
Some eager spirit in my heart
My sleeping eyes unsealed.
Yet still 'twas love that led me here
And bids my feet delay.
Arise, and light the dawn, my dear!
Look forth, look forth and bring the day.
As out of darkness yonder star
Of whitest ray is born
As birds and blossoms feel afar
The coming of the morn,
So thou hast dawn'd, and now art near,
To brighten and to stay:
My being dies in thine, my dear!
As daybreak dies in day.

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by Bayard Taylor (1825 - 1878)
2. I wore your roses yesterday
 (Sung text)
by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), "I wore your roses yesterday", op. 29 (Four songs) no. 2, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
Language: English 
I wore your roses yesterday: 
About this light robe's folds of white, 
Wherein their gathered sweetness lay,
Still clings their perfume, perfume of delight.
And all in vain the warm wind sweeps 
Those airy folds like vapor fine, 
Among them still the odor sleeps, 
And haunts me with a dream divine, a dream divine.

So be my heart your mem'ry clings, 
So sweet, as rich, so delicate;
Eternal summertime it brings, 
Defying all the storms of fate;
A power to turn the darkness bright 
Till life with matchless beauty glows;
Each moment touched with tender light, 
And ev'ry thought of you a rose!

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by Celia Laighton Thaxter (1835 - 1894)
3. Early Spring Time
 (Sung text)
by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), "Early Spring Time", op. 29 (Four songs) no. 3, published 1879
Language: English 
None can express the longing,
The longing mingled with joy, 
Mingled with sadness,
Swelling my heart ever,
When April brings us the bird and flower.
Tender and sweet remembrance
Filling my heart, ...
Gives me assurance,
"Death is but frost."
Lo! the eternal Springtime
of Heav'n shall come...

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by Thomas Hill, Rev.
4. Mondnacht
 (Sung text)
by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), "Mondnacht", op. 29 (Four songs) no. 4 [ voice and piano ], also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als hätt' der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog durch die stillen Lande,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

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Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Moonlight
 (Sung text)
by John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906), "Moonlight", op. 29 (Four songs) no. 4 [ voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
It seemed that earth while sleeping,
Received from Heav'n a kiss,
Her soul in rapture steeping
And bringing dreams of bliss.

The stars were shining brightly
And gently roved the breeze.
Through cornfields waving lightly
And softly rustling trees.

On this my soul long pondered,
At last her wings she spread,
And through the air she wandered
As though she homeward sped.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author