by Ludwig Gotthard Theobul Kosegarten (1758 - 1818)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

An die untergehende Sonne
 (Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG ENG FRE SPA
  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne!

Still und ruhig ist deines Scheidens Gang,
Rührend und feyerlich deines Scheidens Schweigen.
Wehmuth lächelt dein freundliches Auge;
Thränen entträufeln den goldenen Wimpern;
Segnungen strömst du der duftenden Erde.
Immer tiefer, 
Immer leiser,
Immer ernster und feyerlicher
sinkest du den Aether hinab!

  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne!

Es segnen die Völker, 
Es säuseln die Lüfte,
Es räuchern die dampfenden Wiesen dir nach;
Winde durchrieseln dein lockiges Haar;
Wogen kühlen die brennende Wange;
Weit auf thut sich dein Wasserbett -
  Ruh' in Frieden!
  Ruh' in Wonne!
Die Nachtigall flötet dir Schlummergesang.

  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sonne du sinkst!
  Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne!

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5 of the original text.

Note: The title of the first version (1788) is "An die scheidende Sonne".


Composition:

    Set to music by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An die untergehende Sonne", op. 44, D 457 (1817), published 1827, stanzas 1-5

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al sol ponent", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan de ondergaande zon", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To the setting sun", copyright ©
  • ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "To the setting sun", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Au soleil couchant", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Mercedes Vivas) , "Al sol en el ocaso", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 60
Word count: 287

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Sun, you are sinking,
Sun, you are sinking;
Set in peace, o sun!

Your departure is quiet and placid;
the silence of your farewell is stirring and solemn.
A wistfulness smiles from your friendly eyes,
and tears trickle down your golden lashes;
you radiate benedictions upon the aromatic earth.
Ever deeper,
ever softer,
ever more solemn and serious
do you sink into the ether.

Sun, you are sinking,
Sun, you are sinking;
Set in peace, o sun!

The people bless you, 
the wind rustles,
the meadows grow misty after you pass,
winds ripple through your curly hair;
the waves cool your burning cheeks;
your watery bed is broad.
Set in peace,
set in bliss!
The nightingale is piping a lullaby.

Sun, you are sinking,
Sun, you are sinking;
Set in peace, o sun!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5 of the original text.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 133