English translations of Vier Gesänge, opus 33

The day, the humid [day],
 grows pale and now
in this coolness
  desire to rest
Those who gave themselves
  over to the festival of pleasure --
now with trembling
  breast nestles up to breast . . .

The night [breeze]1
  spreads its wings wide:
"Whoever loves, is also awake
  at this time . . ."
He kisses the wave
  and it succumbs
to him at once,
  because it loves him . . .

Oh great celebration!
  Oh most beautiful night!
Now all the splendour,
  shall reveal itself,
[the splendour] that was hidden by day,
  in doubting,
in anxiety and worry --
  Now day is breaking!

Silently from the shore
  a rocking boat casts off --
Is that murderer Death
  leaving the country?
He was summoned here
  in vain:
the God of Life
   rules the world! . . .

What is that stormy whispering
  along the path?
What pleads so yearningly?
  What sighs so anxiously?
Something never before heard
  Your ear now hears --
It beguiles like poison:
  what is happening here?

The sense of the sounds
  is known to me,
Therefore, [you]2 Beautiful One,
  give me your hand:
I, who understood how to
  move your heart,
I wish to lead you
  into Wonderland . . .

With sweet shuddering
  you tear yourself away.
Of what use is your hesitation?
  Your lot has been cast!
The voices fall silent.
  Whoever is awake, loves!
You shall become my own
  this night yet!

This is the day when every sorrow is forgotten.
You Sisters, listen: the holy one is near.
The rustling of cypresses announces him,
And our duty beckons.

We sing to him our dark, resounding song,
So that his fine sun will shine thawing down;
We move around his white, pillared temple,
And each of us is robed like a bride.

Look below where the cool streams run;
There man and wife roam today in nakedness.
Blissfully they drink in the scents and sounds of the meadows,
And all gaze up into the blue heights.

And all rejoice, and all gather
This world's great blossoms of joy.
We, however, will bend down to take the fruit
that falls, golden, between dreaming and waking.

We bring it in a silver basin
To the temple, beside the spear and the shield.
We kneel down. Spread your fragrance, o fruit, and shine forth
to the people his glorified image!

That you drew my attention to that golden glow
with which your heavenly light suffuses me;
that up to your heavenly light I may lift my humble human gaze
Indulging in it;
that you an immortal soul who dares to imagine you, Goddess, 
and into my pulsing heart,
kind-hearted, you gave me the pain as a useful warning
and ecstasy to entice envious thieves;
To enable me to express my thoughts, and sound my innermost feelings
You gave me a harp...
Laurel crowns and easy success, [you gave] to your prouder sons,
[but] you gave me a harp;
To the mind drunk with talent on the wings of enthusiasm
life seems to be more beautiful,
That through the looking-glass of poetry the cloudy truth is much clearer
Much brighter to see:
Therefore, great Goddess, until the Fates come to get me,
my heart beats for you
like an innocent child's heart, and the flames of my gratitude will glow up to you,
May from the golden harp
Recurringly flow your praise, mighty creator-goddess,
May this creative mind
Nestle to your motherly heart in pure embrace,
Until death do us part.

Morning mists, Lila, 
Wrap in your turret.
Should I not be able to see it 
one last time!
Ah, but thousand images 
of happy times 
are floating in my memory 
and warm my heart.
Like when he stood there, 
witness to my pleasure, 
when right from the beginning 
you met 
the timid me 
with friendliness
and all of a sudden 
threw into the soul 
eternal flames!
Sizzle, Northwind, 
with a thousand tongues 
all around my head!
It won't bow to you!
You may bow, 
immature twigs,
bereft of mother sun's 
shelter.

All encompassing love!
Glowing through me;
You confront dangers head on, 
shy away from no fight; 
you have poured 
into my prematurely tired heart 
a renewed will to live: 
joy in life 
and confidence!