Four Nocturnes

Song Cycle by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900)

View original-language texts alone: Vier Notturnos

1. Die Einsame
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wär's dunkel, ich läg' im Walde,
Im Walde rauscht's so sacht,
Mit ihrem Sternenmantel
Bedecket mich da die Nacht,
Da kommen die Bächlein gegangen,
Ob ich schon schlafen thu'?
Ich schlaf' nicht, ich höre noch lange
Den Nachtigallen zu,
Wenn die Wipfel über mir schwanken,
Es klingt die ganze Nacht,
Das sind im Herzen die Gedanken,
Die singen, wenn niemand wacht.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. The lonely girl
Language: English 
Would it were dark, I would lie in the wood,
in the wood it rustles so gently;
With it's coat of stars
Night covers me there.
There come the brooks 
if I am yet asleep?
I don't sleep, by a long way I attend
to the nightingales.
When the treetops wave above me,
they resound all night.
Those are the thoughts in the heart -
They sing when no one is left awake.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 72

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
2. Die Nachtblume
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nacht ist wie ein stilles Meer,
Lust und Leid und Liebesklagen
Kommen so verworren her
In dem linden Wellenschlagen.

Wünsche wie die Wolken sind,
Schiffen durch die stillen Räume,
Wer erkennt im lauen Wind,
Ob's Gedanken oder Träume? --

Schließ' ich nun auch Herz und Mund,
Die so gern den Sternen klagen:
Leise doch im Herzensgrund
Bleibt das linde Wellenschlagen.

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Confirmed with Joseph von Eichendorff, Sämtliche Gedichte und Versepen, Frankfurt am Main und Leipzig: Insel Verlag, 2001, page 299. First published in Dichter und ihre Gesellen, 1833

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Night is like a quiet sea
Language: English 
 Night is like a quiet sea:
 joy and sorrow and the laments of love
 become tangled up
 in the gentle throbbing of the waves.
 
 Desires are like clouds
 that sail through the quiet space:
 who can recognize in the mild wind
 whether they are thoughts or dreams?
 
 Even if my heart and mouth now are closed,
 that once so easily lamented to the stars,
 still, at the bottom of my heart
 there remains the gentle throbbing of those waves.

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.


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Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Vor der Stadt
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwei Musikanten ziehn daher
Vom Wald aus weiter Ferne,
Der eine ist verliebt gar sehr,
Der andre wär es gerne.

Sie stehn allhier im kalten Wind
Und singen schön und geigen:
Ob nicht ein süßverträumtes Kind
Am Fenster sich wollt' zeigen?

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Two musicians arrive here
Language: English 
Two musicians arrive here
from a forest far away:
one is very much in love,
and the other wishes he were.

They stand here in the cold wind
and sing and play so fairly:
Wouldn't some sweetly dreaming maiden
like to appear at her window?

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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Nacht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie schön hier zu verträumen
Die Nacht im stillen Wald,
Wenn in den dunklen Bäumen
Das alte Märchen hallt.

Die Berg' im Mondesschimmer
Wie in Gedanken stehn,
Und durch verworrne Trümmer
Die Quellen klagend gehn.

Denn müd' ging auf den Matten
Die Schönheit nun zur Ruh',
Es deckt mit kühlen Schatten
Die Nacht das Liebchen zu.

Das ist das irre Klagen
In stiller Waldespracht,
Die Nachtigallen schlagen
Von ihr die ganze Nacht.

Die Stern' gehen auf und nieder –
Wann kommst du, Morgenwind,
Und hebst die Schleier wieder
Von dem verträumten Kind?

Schon rührt sich's in den Bäumen,
Die Lerche weckt sie bald –
So will ich treu verträumen
Die Nacht im stillen Wald.

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First published in Dichter und ihre Gesellen in 1834.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Night
Language: English 
How lovely it is here to dream away 
the night in the quiet woods,
when in the dark trees
the old fairy-tales echo.

The mountains stand shimmering in the moonlight
as if deep in thought,
and through the tangled undergrowth
the stream rambles, lamenting.

For wearily upon the meadow,
Beauty walks now to her rest, 
and with cool shadows
Night covers up the dear one.

There is an eerie lament
in the quiet splendour of the wood:
the nightingales sing
about her the entire night.

The stars rise and set --
When will you come, morning wind,
and lift the [shadows]1 again
from the dreaming child?

There is already a rustling in the trees,
The lark will awaken soon --
Thus would I like faithfully to dream away
The night in the quiet woods.

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.


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Translations of titles "Die Nacht" = "The night"
"Nacht" = "Night"

1 Herzogenberg: "mists"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 133

Translation © by Emily Ezust