9 Reinick Lieder

Ah, you bright blue sky, 
how beautiful you are today!
I'd like to press you to my heart right away 
with jubilation and joy.
But that won't do, 
for you are too far away from me,
and what shall I do 
with all my joy?
 
Ah, you shining green world, 
how you beam with pleasure!
I'd like to throw myself right away, 
full of love, on your bosom.
But that won't do, 
and that is just my sorrow,
and what shall I do 
with all my joy?
 
Then I saw my love standing 
under the chestnut tree,
as bright as the sky, 
as beautiful as the earth.
And we kissed each other 
and sang for delight,
and then I knew where 
to go with my joy!

  I'm a sorcerer, but what’s the use?
For my love is a [fairy]1,
[She] mocks me with more [aggravating]2 magic,
[When] I call her to me in this kind way:
  Beloved, where are you?

  Again today in fields and gardens
I went looking for her;
Unexpectedly, I heard laughter emerge from a rose
From the glowing red of her mouth:
  Beloved, here am I!

  Then I became a swift zephyr,
Kissing the beautiful rose in flight.
Alas! I only kissed the rose,
As my beloved had flown away.
  Beloved, where are you?

[ ... ]

  Hark, at the edge of the forest
A nightingale suddenly sang;
Well-known to me was the voice,
And she sang with a dulcet tone:
  Beloved, here am I!

Quickly [changing myself into]3 the evening star
I peered through the green night;
Alas! [an empty Nest]4 I saw,
[My] beloved [had]5 continued on her way.
  Beloved, where are you?

  And so she carries on every day,
Leaving me even now no rest,
While I sing this song,
Invisibly, she calls me to her:
  Beloved, here am I!

  Beloved, put an end to this game,
Come on, just appear to me,
Believe [me], a single kiss is more beautiful
Than any sorcery!
  Beloved, where are you?

The earth rests in heaven,
Moon and stars keep watch,
Upon the earth, a little garden
Slumbers in the flowers' splendour.
Good night, good night!

In the garden there stands a little house,
[Quietly]1 covered by a canopy of lime trees;
Outside before of the little bay window
A singing [bird]2 keeps watch.
Good night, good night!

In the bay-windowed room a maiden sleeps,
Dreaming of the splendour of the flowers;
Within her heart rests heaven,
Wherein the [angels]3 keep watch.
Good night, good night!

The snowdrop bell [rings:
  Ding -- ding -- ding!]1
What does that mean?
  Oh, [such a]2 merry thing!

Spring was born today,
A child of the most beautiful sort;
To be sure it still lies in its white bed,
But it is already so wondrously playful,
Come therefore, ye [birds]3, from the south
And bring along new songs!
  All ye water-springs
  Waken in the valley!
What is all this long tarrying?
You are to prattle with the child!

The lily-of-the-valley bell [rings!
  Bim -- bim -- bim!]1
What does that mean?
  Spring is a bridegroom:

Today springtime marries the earth!
With great [splendour and festivity]4.
Come then, carnations and tulips,
And flourish the colourful wedding flag!
Ye roses and lilies, [adorn yourselves,
You are to become bridesmaids at once!]5
  [Ye butterflies]6
  [Colourfully and quickly]7 you are 
To lead the [marriage dance]8,
The birds provide the music!

The bluebell [rings!
  Bim -- bim -- bim!]1
What does that mean?
  Ah, that is really too terrible!

Tonight springtime must depart,
Therefore, one brings it a farewell greeting:
With bright lights the fireflies flit,
The forest soughs, the water-spring laments,
And in the midst of it all with sweet sound
The nightingales sing from every bush,
  And [their song
  Does not quickly grow weary]9,
Though springtime is [already far]10 away --
All of them were so fond of it!

 Come to me in the silent night!
 My dear, what makes you hesitate? 
 The sun has long since gone to rest,
 the world has closed its eyes,
 around us only Love is awake!
 
 My dear, what makes you hesitate?
 Already the stars are bright,
 Already the moon is in its place,
 hurrying quickly, so quickly!
 My dear, ah my dear, you must also therefore hurry!
 
 The sun has long since gone to rest!
 Don't you trust its shine
 to break soon through the blossoms?
 True is the moon's light,
 my dear, my dear, so why are you afraid?
 
 The world has closed its eyes!
 Flowers and blossoming trees
 slumber in sweet dreams;
 the earth, it hardly breathes;
 Only Love is looking at us lovers!
 
 Love alone is awake,
 calling to you above all others.
 Hear the nightingale,
 hear my voice's call;
 my dear, o come to me in the silent night!

Clouds that hurry toward the East,
where the one who's mine is waiting,
all my wishes, my hopes and songs
shall fly with you on your wings,
shall steer you, 
hurrying ones, to her
so that my chaste love
shall think of me with loyal love.
 
Sing morning dreams to her still,
float gently in the garden,
sink like dew into the shadowy room,
strew pearls upon the flowers and trees
so that to that wonderful being, 
if she passes by,
all the merry blossoms
shall open with even brighter splendor.

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And in the evening, in the silent calm,
spread the sinking sun's light upon yourself!
It shall paint you purple and gold;
And in the sea, bright with glow and sunbeams,
may the little ship 
ply its way,
so that she may believe singing angels
are looking upon you.
 
Yes, it may well be angels,
if my heart were pure like hers;
All my wishes, my hopes and songs
are drawn there on your wings,
are steered there by you, 
hurrying ones, 
to my chaste love,
so that I alone may think of her.

 Masters do not fall from the sky!
 And that's a piece of luck, too!
 for already there are too many masters here;
 if another bunch were to fall from the sky,
 how bruised we apprentices would get
 by all of them,
 despite our masterpieces!
 
 Masters do not fall from the sky!
 Praise God, neither do masters' wives!
 Ah, dear heaven, be so kind,
 if up there one is grumbling,
 keep her in mercy
 so that she doesn't 
 come down to earth to shame us!
 
 Masters do not fall from the sky!
 Nor do masters' daughters!
 A very long time have I known this,
 and yet, what a joy that would be,
 if, young and pretty and merry,
 such a maiden were to come down,
 and be my true love!
 
 Masters do not fall from the sky!
 That is my comfort in this world;
 and so I intend to be a master myself,
 and if I am gifted with a wife,
 then this earth shall be
 a heaven to me,
 from which no master will fall.

Hand me the goblet full of effervescent wine,
Reach me your blossom-like lips to kiss,
Strike the lute-strings that can intoxicate the soul!
In that cup burns the fire of courage,
On your lips blazes the fervor of love, 
The chords rouse the flame of life in me.
Wave of battle, drag me to the breakers!
Waves of love, lift me to the clouds!
Effervescent life, I greet you with jubilation!

  The most beautiful lady once held
My heart so completely spellbound,
That it couldn’t speak a word
  In its initimate bonds.

  So it sent off, like a clever servant,
Quick and fiery loving glances,
To consult secretly
  With my lady’s glances.

  It sent page boys, subtle and wily;
Surreptitiously slipping its fingers,
Pleadingly entwining itself
  With the most beautiful one’s fingers.

  It sent two bold messengers;
[Its] lips were foolhardy enough
To fly to my lady’s mouth,
  To get the news.

  “Hear this, you messengers, page boys, servants!
What news do you bring back?
Have these eyes, fingers, lips
  Nothing to report to me?"

  And full of joy, they cry as one:
Exult, O heart, and tremble no more!
Your lady sends her favor,
  Your bonds are released!