English translations of Zwei Lieder für vier Männerstimmen, opus 12

Mother Night in a grey mantle
Comes a-climbing up the mountain,
Grass and flowers drink dew,
Night-birds fly,
Little silver stars move gently.
    Good night!

That which flees sunshine
Now walks in the forest.
The cowherd falls asleep peacefully
Upon the acclivity of the mountain.
Happy maidens keep watch.
    Good night!

What troubles you, what plagues you,
Let it fall away towards the valley.
If you carry happiness in your heart,
You are to save it wisely
Until the sun smiles down once more.
    Good night!

Of all the winds that blow
I like the wind from the west,
Because there my sweet, beautiful darling lives,
My darling who is so far from me.

Many a wild wood, many a cold water,
[Many a] mountain and valley separate us.
But day and night I am mightily drawn
To her in sweet agony.

I see her in the dew of the floweret,
I see her lovely and beautiful,
I hear her sing in field and meadow,
I hear her enchantment wafting.

And every sweet floweret that pushes itself forth
From water-spring, bush, grass, and greenery,
And every dear birdlet that sings
Leads me to my Jean.

Blow, sweet west wind, blow gently and softly,
Swaying in foliage and branch,
With the breath of balsam through bush and shrub,
Bring home the rich flowerets.

And bring my treasure back to me,
So dear and lovely, only her!
A single glance from her chases every sorrow away, --
A glance from my Jean.

Many a precious vow in grove and lea
Once united our hearts.
How sweet to see one another! how bitter to leave! --
The night upon which she vanished for me!

Only the Father above knows,
I call Him as a witness,
That no woman here is so precious to me
As my sweet Jean.