by Albert (Ernst Ludwig Karl), Graf von Schlippenbach (1800 - 1886)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Die Sterne schau'n in stiller Nacht
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG
Die Sterne schau'n in stiller Nacht
Herab zur Lagerstätte,
Wo's blonde Mädchen sitzt und wacht,
An kranker Mutter Bette.
Was blickst du einsam zu uns auf?
Willst späh'n der rollenden Welten Lauf?

Ihr Sternlein, ach! versteht ihr nicht
Der Tochter bangen Kummer?
Daß nicht das treu'ste Auge bricht,
O schenkt ihm süßen Schlummer,
Ihr Sternlein all', hab' euch so gern!
Doch Mutterlieb' ist der schönste Stern.

Nur still, du weinend Mädchen, du!
Der Schlummer senkt sich nieder,
Ein holder Engel schließt ihr zu
Die müden Augenlider;
Schau' nur, wie sanft sie ruht im Bett!
Ja, wenn nicht der Mensch seine Engel hätt'!

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) , "En la tranquil·la nit, les estrelles esguarden", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De sterren zien in stille nacht", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In the silent night, the stars are gazing down", copyright © 2017


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 102

In the silent night, the stars are gazing down
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
In the silent night, the stars are gazing down
Upon the place
Where the blonde maiden sits and watches
At the bedside of her ill mother.
Why do you look up at us in such loneliness?
Do you wish to see the paths of turning worlds?

You little stars, ah! Don't you understand
The anxious sorrow of a daughter?
So that these truest of eyes may not fail,
O grant them sweet slumber,
All you little stars - I love you so dearly!
- Yet a mother's love is the fairest star.

Now hush you weeping maiden, you!
Slumber is descending,
A lovely angel is closing
Your weary eyelids;
Just behold how gently she now rests in bed!
Yes, what would one do without one's [guardian] angel?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2017-03-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 125