English translations of Drei Abendlieder, opus 42

 My eyes, my dear little windows,
 for a long time now you have given me lovely light,
 kindly allowing in one image after another:
 yet one day you will grow dark!
 
 When someday your weary lids fall closed,
 you will be extinguished and my soul will have its rest;
 tentatively, it will strip off its wanderer's shoes,
 and lay itself also in its dark coffin.
 
 But it will still see two small sparks gleaming there
 like two little stars, seen only inwardly,
 until they weaken and then also die out
 as if blown by the wings of a butterfly.
 
 But I still wander in the evening fields,
 accompanied only by fading stars:
 drink, o eyes, as much as your lashes can hold,
 of the golden opulence of the world!

In the evening, pairs of lovers
Walk slowly through the fields,
Women loosen their hair,
Merchants count money,
Citizens anxiously read the latest
In the evening paper,
Children close their little fists,
Sleep deeply and fully.
Everyone does the only true thing,
Follows lofty duty,
Infants citizens lovers --
And I myself do not?
 
On the contrary!  The world spirit cannot
Do without my evening activities,
Of which I am the slave;
They too have meaning.
And thus I walk up and down,
Dance inside,
Hum silly street songs,
Praise God and myself,
Drink wine and imagine
That I am a pasha,
I feel anxieties worrying my reins,
I smile, drink more,
Say yes to my heart
(In the morning it is impossible),
From bygone pains I playfully
Spin a poem,
I see the moon and stars orbiting,
I sense their purpose,
I feel myself travelling with them,
No matter whither.

 The moon has risen,
 the tiny golden stars shine
 in the heavens bright and clear;
 the forest stands dark and silent,
 and from the meadows climbs
 a wondrous white mist.

 How still is the world,
 and in the veil of twilight,
 as comfortable and lovely
 as a quiet chamber,
 where the misery of the day
 you will sleep away and forget.

 Do you see the moon standing there?
 There is only half of it to see,
 and yet it is round, and fair!
 So it is with many things
 that we mock confidently,
 Because our eyes see them not.

 We proud children of man
 are vain, poor sinners
 and we know nothing well.
 We spin airy nothings
 and search for many arts,
 but we merely move further from our goal.

 God, show us Salvation!
 Make us aspire after nothing transitory
 and rejoice not in vanity!
 Let us become simple,
 and before You here on earth,
 let us become as pious and joyous as children!

         *  *  *

 Might You, at the end, without pain,
 Take us from the world
 through gentle death,
 and when you have taken us,
 let us arrive in Heaven,
 Thou, our Lord and our God?

 Then lie down, brothers,
 in God's name, lie down!
 Cold is the breeze of the evening;
 spare us, God, Thy punishments
 and let us sleep peacefully -
 and our ill neighbour as well!