English translation of Säusle, liebe Myrte!

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Säusle, liebe Myrte!", op. 68 (Sechs Lieder nach Gedichten von Clemens Brentano) no. 3 (1918-1919)

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Säus'le, liebe Myrthe!
Wie still ist's in der Welt,
Der Mond, der Sternenhirte
Auf klarem Himmelsfeld,
Treibt schon die Wolkenschafe
Zum Born des Lichtes hin,
Schlaf, mein Freund, o schlafe,
Bis ich wieder bei dir bin!

Säus'le, liebe Myrthe!
Und träum' im Sternenschein,
Die Turteltaube girrte
Auch ihre Brut schon ein.
Still ziehn die Wolkenschafe
Zum Born des Lichtes hin,
Schlaf, mein Freund, o schlafe,
Bis ich wieder bei dir bin!

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Confirmed with Clemens Brentano's gesammelte schriften. Zweiter Band. Weltliche Gedichte, ed. by Christian Brentano, Frankfurt am Main, J. D. Sauerländer's Verlag, 1852, pages 441-442.

Note: the spelling of "Myrthe" has undergone a few spelling reforms, and might be seen variously as "Myrte" or "Mirte".


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Hörst du, wie die Brunnen rauschen?
Hörst du, wie die Grille zirpt?
Stille, stille, laß uns lauschen,
Selig, wer in Träumen stirbt;
Selig, wen die Wolken wiegen,
Wenn der Mond ein Schlaflied singt;
O! wie selig kann der fliegen,
Dem der Traum den Flügel schwingt,
Daß an blauer Himmelsdecke
Sterne er wie Blumen pflückt;
Schlafe, träume, flieg, ich wecke
Bald dich auf und bin beglückt!

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Confirmed with Clemens Brentano's gesammelte schriften. Zweiter Band. Weltliche Gedichte, ed. by Christian Brentano, Frankfurt am Main, J. D. Sauerländer's Verlag, 1852, pages 441-442.

Note: Line 6 word 1 is "Wenn" in the first edition, but later editions use "Wem".


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): Clemens Maria Wenzeslaus von Brentano (1778 - 1842)
Rustle, dear myrtle!
How quiet it is in the world,
the moon, the shepherd of the stars
in the bright field of heaven,
is driving the cloud-sheep already
to the spring of light;
sleep, my friend, o sleep,
until I am with you again!

Rustle, dear myrtle!
and dream in the starlight;
the turtledove has cooed
her brood to sleep.
Quietly the cloud-sheep float
toward the spring of light;
sleep, my friend, o sleep,
until I am with you again!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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Translation of title "Säusle, liebe Myrte!" = "Rustle, dear myrtle!"


Do you hear how the fountains roar?
Do you hear how the cricket twitters?
Hush, hush, let us listen.
Blessed is he who dies in his dreams;
Blessed is he whom clouds cradle,
when the moon sings a lullaby;
Oh! how blissfully can he fly,
he who brandishes wings in his dreams,
so that on the blue roof of Heaven
he may pick stars like flowers;
sleep, dream, fly - I will awaken
you soon and you will be happy!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2003 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


Translation © by Emily Ezust