In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild | In the fields I creep, silent and wild

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Jägers Abendlied

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

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
Durch Feld und liebes Thal,
Und ach mein schnell verrauschend Bild
Stellt sich dir's nicht einmal?

 ... 

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 text above is taken from stanzas 1,2,4 of the original text.

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:

Franz Peter Schubert

Vier Lieder

Text Authorship:

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Jägers Abendlied", written 1775-6, first published 1776

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 F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Add this translation to your Reprint Basket | Add tr by F. Schubert

 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?

 ... 

 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.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,2,4 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Jägers Abendlied", written 1775-6, first published 1776
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 104