How the night makes a holy trembling
As it lies on the quiet Earth!
How gently it takes the soul's striving,
Sumptuous strength and full life
And rocks it into a sweet sleep!
But with endlessly new pains
Longing stirs in my breast.
Even if all feelings are asleep in the heart,
And if agony and joy are silent in the soul:

Love's longing never sleeps,
Love's longing is awake late and early.

Quietly, like the notes of an Aeolian harp,
A gentle breath is blowing towards me.
Selene shines sweetly and in a friendly way,
And in gentle, spiritual beauty
Night goes on its quiet way.
But a bold, stormy life
Is what love gives to a drunken mind.
More clearly I can see your image floating away from me.
Oh! and the calm of my breast has gone!
Love's longing never sleeps,
Love's longing is awake late and early.

Deep in sweet, holy silence
The world is at rest and hardly breathes,
And the most beautiful images rise
Out of life's bright dances,
And the dream comes alive.
But even in the forms of dreams,
Longing, so painful, signals to me,
And without mercy, with deep force,
It disturbs the heart, pulling it out of its blissful peace.
Love's longing never sleeps,
Love's longing is awake late and early.

Thus the cycle of the hours floats by
Until day dawns with a grey light in the East.
There emerges, new born,
Out of the morning's rose-pink gates,
The bride of heaven, glowing brightly.
But longing for you in my heart
Has awoken even more strongly with the morning;
My pains are eternally rejuvenated,
Tormenting me by day, tormenting me by night.
Love's longing never sleeps,
Love's longing is awake late and early.