English translations of 3 Lieder, opus 19

A gust of wind rushes in,
From where? From where?
Hear how it rustles in the treetops,
The pines! The pines!
Just an intense sound! – then quiet again
And the frost flutters downward.
What was that, my dear valley, what was that?
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon storms will roar and howl mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.

A beam of light flames bright across the sky,
From where? From where?
See how the tree tops glisten
The pines! The pines!
Only a sudden flash! – then darkness again
And the heavens gaze sadly downward.
What was that, my dear valley, what was that?
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon the sun will gleam and dazzle mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.

The snow is already retreating to the mountains
From there, from there,
Deep black, the winter calls defiance
To the pines, the pines.
Only a little more time! – Birdsong
Again will ring happy and joyfully.
Best wishes, my dear valley, best wishes!
Today, for the very first time
Will your domain
Proclaim the arrival of Spring,
Soon the streams will gush and foam mightily,
And Spring, Spring shall awaken.

  You quiet land, I thank you for your peace;
How quietly and gently every sorrow has departed [from me]!
  Just like your flowers here in the dark greenery,
Everything must once more bloom for me luminously and beautifully,
  And just as your brooklet runs briskly and brightly,
The well-spring of the purest joy flows through my heart.

  You quiet land, suffused by the evening glow,
How your forest of mountains holds me lovingly enclosed!
  Just as the fir soughs there upon the peak,
My blissful heart listens for God’s breath,
  And as the kite soars high about the forest,
My heart flies high and ever higher.

  You quiet land, I thank you for your peace;
Ah, what a thrill of rapture here below already!
  But see, how with sweet, sweet power
The blue of heaven greets me through the night of leaves,
  And from the depths I return the greeting gladly:
Ah, only there what peace, what happiness!

   Murmur, murmur, merry brook,
Awaken the flowers on your banks with kisses!
   Oh, how grateful they shall be,
How gracefully they shall bend down toward you,
   And [in]1 your bright waves
Their faces shall laughingly be reflected!

   Hearken, oh hearken, with a loud sound
The blackbird is already joyfully greeting you!
   Look how along your borders everywhere
It has already become green;
   That makes you restless, doesn't it?
Flow more quickly, you jaunty fellow!

[ ... ]

   Murmur, murmur, merry brook,
Soon the slumbering spring shall awaken!
   Quickly upon your lovely pathways
Journey toward the lovely [spring],
   Till in May, gratefully joyous,
[Spring] shall shower you with blossoms!