You loved ones, whom, replete with melancholy,
I yearn to hold close to my breast,
Receive the small tariff of friendship
Along with a friendship tear,
To be sure, the offering is only humble;
It is only a little song full of laments,
May friendship, however, tell you
How feelingly I sing of you.
 
   Thank you, all you noble ones together,
Brethren of my soul,
Thank you all for goodness and friendship!
I cannot count all your kindnesses,
Neither can I ever repay them --
Only honour them silently;
May He who rewards all things, reward them too!
He shall answer my plea.
 
   My fate showed me a goal
For which I was to strive;
There has been much agony and anxiety,
Much hardship and suffering,
Upon my path I was forced to fight my way
Through thorns and thistles,
As well, I had to struggle with rocky cliffs
And boulders that alarmed me.
 
   But often upon my pathway
The sun also gazed down in brightness,
And unexpectedly poured
Happiness, joy and bliss into the darkness.
Many a rose as well bloomed forth
From thorns and through chasms,
And poured upon my dreary course
Many sweet scents of ambergris.
 
   You, friends, were my ambergris,
You were the sweet roses
That poured into my gloomy heart
A thousand, thousand joys;
When upon my pilgrimage
I scarcely dared to hope for rest,
There I found you, you noble hearts,
And found your arms open to welcome me.
 
   I had done nothing to deserve
You and your goodness,
And I travelled as through the desolate night
With a despondent spirit.
I knew nothing of you and was
As if abandoned by the world:
Then you stretched our your arms to me
To embrace me in love.
 
   Upon your bosom my heart beat
In serene peace and happily
It forgot anxiety, suffering and pain,
It was free of anguish, was blissful,
But my changeable fate did not rest,
[My fate] that grudged me the joy,
Until it had torn me from the lap of love
And from love's arms.
 
   Now I sigh for many an hour of mourning
For you, you noble loved ones!
I often weep my bleary eyes red
With warm desires of friendship;
Ah friends, continue to love me,
Never forget Theresa!
I, who am to you eternally,
Eternally that which I have been.
 
   Farewell! May all of you fare well forever!
Someday we shall see each other again,
Then shall, oh bliss! Ah then shall
A torrent of rejoicing songs
Thank you, friends, for every faithfulness
That you have shown me,
Unchanging shall my heart then
Enjoy your company in continual joy.