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Freundlich ist dein Antlitz, Sohn des Himmels! Leis sind deine Tritte Durch des Aethers Wüste, Holder Nachtgefährte. Dein Schimmer ist sanft und erquickend, Wie das Wort des Trostes Von des Freundes Lippe, Wenn ein schrecklicher Geyer An der Seele nagt. Manche Thräne siehst du, Siehst so manches Lächeln, Hörst der Liebe trauliches Geflüster, Leuchtest ihr auf stillem Pfade, Hoffnung schwebt auf deinem Strahle Herab zum stillen Dulder, Der verlassen geht auf bedorntem Weg. Du siehst auch meine Freunde, Zerstreut in fernen Landen; Du gießest deinen Schimmer Auch auf die frohen Hügel, Wo [ich]1 als Knabe hüpfte, Wo oft bei deinem Lächeln Ein unbekanntes Sehnen Mein junges Herz ergriff. Du blickst auch auf die Stätte, Wo meine Lieben [ruhen]2, Wo der Thau fällt auf ihr Grab, Und die Gräser drüber [wehen]3 In dem Abendhauche. Doch dein Schimmer Dringt nicht in die dunkle Kammer, Wo sie ruhen von des Lebens [Mühe]4, Wo auch ich bald ruhen werde! Du wirst geh'n und wiederkehren, [Und]5 seh'n noch manches Lächeln, Dann werd' ich nicht mehr lächeln, Dann werd' ich nicht mehr weinen, Mein wird man [dann]6 nicht mehr gedenken Auf dieser schönen Erde.
Confirmed with Poetische Werke von Aloys Schreiber. Erster Band. Tübingen, bei Heinrich Laupp. 1817, pages 366-367; and with Aloys Schreiber's Gedichte. Zweyter Theil. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1817. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 68-69.
First published in a slightly different version in 1801; see below.
1 Schubert: "ich oft"2 Schubert: "ruhn"
3 Schubert: "wehn"
4 Schubert: "Müh'n"
5 Schubert: "Du wirst"
6 omitted by Schubert
Text Authorship:
- by Aloys Wilhelm Schreiber (1761 - 1841), "An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht" [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht", D 614 (1818), published 1832 [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "A la lluna en una nit de tardor", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan de maan in een herfstnacht", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To the moon on an autumn night", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À la lune, une nuit d'automne", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Alla luna in una notte autunnale", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 188
Friendly is your face, son1 of the sky! Gentle are your steps through the wasteland of ether, lovely night companion! Your glow is gentle and refreshing, like words of solace from the lips of a friend when some terrible woe gnaws on the soul. You see many tears, and many smiles; you hear the intimate whispers of lovers, and light their silent way; hope floats down on your rays to the silent suffering one; the forsaken one continues on his thorny way. You see also my friends, scattered in far lands: you pour your light also on those cheerful hills where as a boy I often played and jumped, and where, at your smile, an unknown longing gripped my young heart. You gaze down also on those places where my loved ones rest, where the dew falls upon their graves and the grass above them waves in the evening breeze. Yet your light does not penetrate the dark chamber where they rest from life's misery, where soon I shall rest as well! You shall go and then return; you shall see many a smile yet; but I will smile no more and weep no more; no one will think about me again upon this fair earth.
1 Translator's note: In German, "moon" is a masculine noun. Substitute "daughter" if you prefer!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Aloys Wilhelm Schreiber (1761 - 1841), "An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 206