English translations of Zwei Lieder für 1 Sopran- oder Tenorstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 26

A violet stood upon the lea,
Hunched o'er in anonymity;
So amiable a violet!
Along there came a young shepherdess
Light paced, full of contentedness
Along, along,
The lea, and sang her song.

Ah!" thinks the violet, "were I just
The fairest flower in the dust
For just a little while yet,
Until that darling seizes me
And to her bosom squeezes me!
For just, for just
A quarter hour long!"

Ah! And alas!  There came the maid
And no heed to the violet paid,
Crushed the poor little violet.
It sank and died, yet filled with pride:
And though I die, I shall have died
Through her, through her,
And at her feet have died."

 Do not sing in mournful tones
 of the loneliness of Night.
 No; it was, o tender, fair ones,
 made for companionship.
 
 As woman was given to man
 to be his better half,
 so is Night half of life,
 and certainly the better half.
 
 Can you delight in the day,
 which only interrupts joy?
 It is good for distraction, 
 but of use for nothing else.
 
 But when, in that nocturnal hour,
 the sweet lamps' twilight flows,
 and from mouth to neighboring mouth
 pour jests and love;
 
 when that quick, scampish boy
 who hurries, wild and fiery,
 often toying with a small gift
 in light play to pass the time;
 
 when the nightingale sings to sweethearts
 a little song full of love,
 which to the imprisoned and troubled
 sounds only like sighs and moans;
 
 with such a lightly stirring heart
 do you not listen to the bell,
 that, with twelve measured strokes
 promises repose and safety?
 
 Thus, in the long day,
 mark it well, dear heart:
 every day has its troubles,
 and the night has its pleasure.