from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)

Himmelsboten
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA JPN
Der Mondschein, der ist schon verblichen,
die finstre Nacht ist hingeschlichen;
steh auf, du edle Morgenröt',
zu dir all mein Vertrauen steht.

Phöbus, ihr Vorbot' wohlgeziert,
hat schon den Wagen angeschirrt,
die Sonnenross' sind vorgespannt,
Zügel ruht in seiner Hand.

Ihr Vorbot', der Don Lucifer,
schwebt allbereits am Himmel her,
er hat die Wolken aufgeschlossen,
die Erd' mit seinem Tau begossen.

O fahrt vor ihr Schlafkämmerlein,
weckt leis die süße Liebste mein,
verkündet ihr, was ich euch sag':
Mein Dienst, mein Gruß, ein' guten Tag.

Doch müßt ihr sie fein züchtig wecken,
dabei meine heimliche Lieb' entdecken,
sollt sagen, wie ihr Diener wacht
so kummervoll die ganze Nacht.

Schaut für mich an die gelben Haar',
ihr Hälslein blank, ihr Äuglein klar;
küßt ihr für mich den roten Mund
und, wenn sie's leid't, die Brüstlein rund.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Missatgers del cel", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Hemelboden", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Messengers from Heaven", copyright ©
  • ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "The Angel's Love‑Message", first published 1897
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Messaggeri del cielo", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • JPN Japanese (日本語) (Naoyuki Okada) , "天の使者", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 135

The Angel's Love‑Message
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The moonlight now has paled and vanish'd,
The darksome night at length is banish'd;
Arise, thou glorious dawn of morn,
Arise, and cheer the heart forlorn!

Phoebus, the herald, ready doth stand,
Beside the chariot, reins in hand;
His steeds they prance and long to start,
Wait the word, then off they dart.

The herald, Master Lucifer;
His morning flight wings thro' the air;
'Tis he has ope'd the gates of heaven,
And earth refreshing dew has given.

O drive away where sweetly sleeps
My love, and wake her, e'er daylight peeps;
And listen now to what I say:
My service, my greetings to her convey.

Then softly o'er my darling hover,
And, when she awakes, my fond love discover,
And tell her how her lover sighed
And longed for her, the livelong night.

Ye shall behold her golden hair,
Her snow-white neck, her eyes so fair;
Kiss then for me her fingertips,
And, if she'll let you, her rosebud lips.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2019-10-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 161