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by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858)
Translation © by Anja Bunzel

Seelige Nacht
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Noch einmal erklingt ihr Gläser,
Durchglüht von dem purpurnem Wein!
Ein Lied der Kraft und der Freude
Soll hell noch gesungen sein.
Da unten vom dunkeln Strande
Der Schiffer schon ruft: habt Acht,
Nun auf dem schimmernden Saale
In die hehre, die seelige Nacht.

Da liegt, wie im blauen Mantel
Ein schlafender König der Rhein;
Vom Himmelsgewölbe giessen 
Die Sterne den milden Schein.
Wohl schweigen Wort und Gesänge,
Doch tief in der Seele erwacht
Das hohe Geheimniß der Liebe
In der heiligen, seeligen Nacht.

So sanft auf den Spiegelfluthen
Wiegt uns der schwebende Kahn;
Mir war, gelehnet an den Liebsten
Als schiff’ er uns himmelan.
So nah dem geliebtesten Herzen
Behorcht’ ich, was still es gedacht;
Es schlug voll unendlicher Treue
In der trauten, holdseeligen Nacht.

Da hob sich über die Berge
Der Mond, und schaut’ in den Fluß;
Ihm sandten die tausend Gestirne
Entgegen den Liebesgruß.
Dem nächtlichen Freund erbebten
Die Wellen, umspielten ihn sacht
Wo wiederstrahlte sein Bildniß
Aus der blauen, der seeligen Nacht.

Nun hell die Thürme am Ufer
Der Mond mit Golde ummalt,
Und manche liebliche Stelle
Von holder Erinn’rung umstrahlt. 
Da wandtest auch du dein Auge
Zum Licht, und in stolzer Macht
Erglänzten die edlen Züge
In der hohen, der seeligen Nacht.

Fest Hand in Hand geschlossen,
Tief Seele der Seele geeint! – 
Da fallen zwei Sterne herunter
Als ob es ein Engel beweint’
Mit leuchtenden Himmelsthränen
Daß irdischen Glückes Pracht
Ach, immer zu bald uns entschwebet
Wie die seelige, seelige Nacht.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Kinkel 

J. Kinkel sets stanzas 1-3, 6

Text Authorship:

  • by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Seelige Nacht" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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

  • by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Seelige Nacht", op. 18 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1843, stanzas 1-3,6 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • ENG English (Anja Bunzel) , "Blessed night", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Anja Bunzel

This text was added to the website: 2014-07-24
Line count: 48
Word count: 247

Blessed night
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Once again, clink the glasses,
Full of red wine!
A song of strength and happiness
Shall be sung brightly
In the gleaming hall.
The captain shouts: ‘Watch out’,
From the dark river bank
During the noble, blessed night.

Blue-coated, the river Rhine
Sleeps like a king; 
The stars are sparkling
Mildly from the sky.
No words and no singing, all silent,
But, deep in the soul, awakes
The great secret of love
During the sacred, blessed night.

The floating tub cradles us
Over the reflective floods;
Leaning against my beloved,
I feel I am moving skywards.
So close to the beloved’s heart,
I listen to what it had to say;
A beat of eternal faith
During the intimate, blessed night.

The moon arose over the hills
And looked at the river;
Thousands of stars sent
Towards him the loving message.
The picture of my nocturnal friend
Who is bathed in the waves,
Is reflected in the water,
During the blue, blessed night.

The towers at the river bank
Are contoured by the golden moon shine,
And a beloved place
Was illuminated by graceful memories.
Then you turned your eye 
To the light, and your noble traits
Shone proudly
During the great, blessed night.

Hand in hand,
Having united our souls! – 
Two stars are falling down
As if an angel had cried a
Bright heavenly tear.
May the joyful glory
Always be with us like 
During this blessed, blessed night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Anja Bunzel, (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 Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Seelige Nacht"
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2014-07-24
Line count: 48
Word count: 240

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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