Sombrely the night has fallen all about

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by August Gottlieb Meißner (1753 - 1807)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Vierte Serenate

(Sung text for setting by C. Neefe)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

  Düster liegt die Nacht umher;
Jedes Aug ist schlummerschwer, 
Jede Flur ist menschenleer;
Aber ich wache doch! 
Aber nur ich, trautes Julchen, ich fühle noch 
Schlummer und Traumgesicht 
Ruh'  und Erquickung nicht.

  Mädchen mit dem Rosenmund,
O, wie ist mein Herz so wund!
Knüpf der Liebe süßen Bund,
Flieh mich, Mädchen, länger nicht mehr!
Damit nicht der Sorgen ertödtendes Heer,
Eh' als mein Lenz verblüht,
In die Grube mich zieht.

  Bey der Liebe, liebster Sohn,
Bey Cytherens Götterthron,
Fleh ich dich: halt, o halte den Lohn
Meiner Treu nicht länger mir auf!
Dieser Zähren gewaltiger Lauf 
Und dieß bleiche Gesicht --
Ach! erweicht es dich nicht?

  Düster liegt die Flur umher,
Donnerwolken ziehen schwer
Am trüben Himmel daher;
O wie gleicht mein Herz dieser Nacht!
Doch so bald nur, Schönste, dein Auge mir lacht,
Dann drohe, was da will;
Himmel und Herz wird still.

Composition:

Christian Gottlob Neefe

Serenaten beym Klavier zu singen

Text Authorship:

by August Gottlieb Meißner (1753 - 1807), "Serenade"

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2010-06-25
Line count: 28
Word count: 155

Fourth serenade

(Sung text translation for setting by C. Neefe)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

  Sombrely the night has fallen all about;
Every eye is heavy with slumber,
Every meadow is devoid of people;
But I kept watch nevertheless!
But only I, dear Julia, I still do not feel
Slumber and dream-images,
Rest and refreshment.

Maiden with the rosy lips,
Oh, how my heart is so sore!
Tie the sweet bond of love, 
Maiden, do not flee me any longer!
So that the killing horde of anxieties
May not pull me into the grave
Before my springtime has faded.

  By the dearest son of love,
By the divine throne of Venus,
I beg you: delay, oh delay the reward
Of my faithfulness no longer!
Does the mighty flood of these tears
And this pale face --
Ah, does it not soften your heart?

  Sombrely the night has fallen all about;
Thunderous clouds pass heavily
Along the dreary sky;
Oh how similar my heart is to this night!
But as soon, lovely one, as your eyes smile upon me,
Then threaten what may;
Heart and heavens shall become quiet.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by August Gottlieb Meißner (1753 - 1807), "Serenade"
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This text was added to the website: 2019-01-04
Line count: 28
Word count: 177