We sat together in the green grove
On a wondrously lovely day in May,
All around the caressing, blissful scent of blossoms,
All around the wafting, spicy [scent of the] spring breeze;
The nightingale sang her sweet love songs.
The lilac bloomed.

"Why do you weep, my love, in such an hour
Where lips are rapturously pressed to lips,
Where round about us everything blooms and emits scent
And within us love glows so blissfully?
And though I must leave, I shall return once more
When the lilac blooms anew!"

And when I returned from a faraway land,
The dear love of my heart I found nevermore.
They led me to a mound,
My poor darling lay within it,
And round about sweet scents wafted downwards.
The lilac bloomed.