by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Jägers Abendlied
 (Sung text for setting by J. von Dalberg)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Im Felde schleich' ich still und wild,
Gespannt mein Feuerrohr.
Da schwebt so licht dein liebes Bild
Dein süßes Bild mir vor.

Du wandelst jetzt wohl still und mild
Durchs Feld und liebe Thal,
Und ach mein schnell verrauschend Bild
Stellt sich dir's nicht einmal?

Des Menschen, der die Welt durchstreift
Voll Unmuth und Verdruß,
Nach Osten und nach Westen schweift,
Weil er dich lassen muß.

Mir ist es, denk' ich nur an dich,
Als in den Mond zu sehn;
Ein stiller Friede kommt auf mich,
Weiß nicht wie mir geschehn.

Note: the poem was published first anonymously in Christoph Martin Wieland's Der Teutsche Merkur vom Jahr 1776. Erstes Vierteljahr. Weimar, pages 8-9, with the title Jägers Nachtlied, see below.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Avondlied van de jager", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chant vespéral du chasseur", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 96

In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild
 (Sung text translation for setting by J. von Dalberg)
 See original
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 In the fields I creep, silent and wild,
 my gun cocked.
 There floats so lightly your dear image,
 your sweet image before me.
 
 You wander now so mute and gentle
 through field and dear valley;
 and ah! my swiftly passing image,
 does it not once appear before you?
 
 ...the image of a man who prowls through the world,
 full of indignance and annoyance,
 wandering from east to west
 because he must leave you?
 
 If I only think of you, it seems to me
 that I'm looking at the moon:
 a still peace comes over me,
 and I do not know how it happens.

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: 16
Word count: 104