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Singet nicht in Trauertönen
Von der Einsamkeit der Nacht.
Nein, sie ist, o holde Schönen,
Zur Geselligkeit gemacht.
Wie das Weib dem Mann gegeben
Als die schönste Hälfte war,
Ist die Nacht das halbe Leben
Und die schönste Hälfte zwar.
Könnt ihr euch des Tages freuen,
Der nur Freuden unterbricht?
Er ist gut, sich zu zerstreuen;
Zu was anderm taugt er nicht.
Aber wenn in nächt'ger Stunde
Süsser Lampe Dämmrung fließt,
Und vom Mund zum nahen Munde
Scherz und Liebe sich ergießt;
...
Mit wie leichtem Herzensregen
Horchet ihr der Glocke nicht,
Die mit zwölf bedächtgen Schlägen
Ruh und Sicherheit verspricht.
Darum an dem langen Tage,
Merke dir es, liebe Brust;
Jeder Tag hat seine Plage,
Und die Nacht hat ihre Lust.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4,7-8 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Die Nacht", op. 55 (Gedichte von Goethe: III) no. 5 (1815?), stanzas 1-4,7-8
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Do not sing in mournful tones", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Ne chantez pas dans des tons désolés", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Non cantate in triste melodia", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 159
Do not sing in mournful tones
of the loneliness of Night.
No; it was, o tender, fair ones,
made for companionship.
As woman was given to man
to be his better half,
so is Night half of life,
and certainly the better half.
Can you delight in the day,
which only interrupts joy?
It is good for distraction,
but of use for nothing else.
But when, in that nocturnal hour,
the sweet lamps' twilight flows,
and from mouth to neighboring mouth
pour jests and love;
...
with such a lightly stirring heart
do you not listen to the bell,
that, with twelve measured strokes
promises repose and safety?
Thus, in the long day,
mark it well, dear heart:
every day has its troubles,
and the night has its pleasure.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4,7-8 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 176