Translation © by Malcolm Wren

Der Herbstabend
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT DUT ENG ENG FRE
Abendglocken-Halle zittern
[Dumpf durch]1 Moorgedüfte hin;
Hinter jenes Kirchhofs Gittern
Blaßt des Dämmerlichts Karmin.

Aus umstürmten Lindenzweigen
Rieselt welkes Laub herab,
Und gebleichte Gräser beugen
Sich auf ihr bestimmtes Grab.

Freundin! wankt, im Abendwinde,
Bald auch Gras auf meiner Gruft,
Schwärmt das Laub um ihre Linde
Ruhelos in feuchter Luft,

[Wenn]2 schon meine Rasenstelle
Nur dein welker Kranz noch ziert,
Und auf Lethes leiser Welle
Sich mein Nebelbild verliert:

Lausche dann! Im Blätterschauer
Wird es dir vernehmlich wehn:
Jenseits schwindet jede Trauer;
Treue wird sich wiedersehn!

F. Schubert sets stanzas 1-3

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte von J. G. von Salis. Gesammelt durch seinen Freund Friedrich Matthisson. Zürich, bey Orell, Gessner, Füssli und Compagnie. 1793, pages 33-34; with Gedichte von J.G. von Salis. Neue Auflage. Zürich, bey Orell Füßli und Compagnie. 1808, pages 94-95; and with Gedichte von J. G. von Salis. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1815. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 87-88.

1 Schubert (second version only): "Durch die"
2 Righini, Salis (1808 edition): "Wann"

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) , "El capvespre de tardor", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De herfstavond", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The autumn evening", copyright ©
  • ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "The autumn evening", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le soir d'automne", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this text: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 86

The autumn evening
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The echoes of evening bells are reverberating
But are muffled as they are carried on the moorland breezes;
Behind the fencing of that churchyard
The crimson light of sunset is turning pale.

From the branches of lime trees battered in storms
Dead leaves flutter down,
And faded leaves of grass bend down
Over her designated grave.

Friend! The evening wind will blow
Grass over my grave too very soon,
The foliage will blow around its lime tree
Without respite in the damp air,

When my own spot in the turf
Has already been decorated with your faded wreath,
And on the gentle waves of Lethe
My misty image has vanished:

Listen then! In the shower of leaves
You will clearly hear it blowing:
Over there all mourning disappears;
We shall definitely see each other again!

Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Malcolm Wren, (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.
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Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2017-07-24
Line count: 20
Word count: 135