Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Snachts rusten meest de dieren, Oock mensen goet, en quaat, En mijn Lief goedertieren Is in een stille staat: Maer ick moet eensaam swieren, En cruysen hier de straet. Ick sie het swerrick drijven Ick sie de claare Maan, Ick sie, dat ick moet blijven Alleen mistroostich staan! Ach lief, wilt mij gerijven Met troostelijck vermaan! [Ach Lely hoogh verheven, Verheven in mijn sin, Mijn hoope van mijn leven, Ghewenschte schoon Vriendin, Wilt my, u jonstich, gheven Een lieve weder min. Met hoop en vrees bevanghen, Met een ghestaeghe stryt Van sorghen en verlangen, Verwacht ick nu ter tijdt Van u, myn troost, t'ontfangen t'Woort daar men lang om vrijt. Myn vruchteloos verwachten Myn commer niet en blust, Sult ghy my heel verachten, Och voester van myn lust? Maer siet, ick onbedachte Claagh nu sy leyt en rust.]1 Och slaapt ghij mijn behagen, Dewijl ick doe mijn clacht? Wat baet mij dan mijn claagen, Nu ghij den dooven slacht: Ick salt gheduldich draagen, Ick wensch u goede nacht. Adieu Prinsesge jeugelijck Mijn Vrou van mij gemoet: Adieu en droomt gheneughelijck En slaapt gerust en soet: Ach t'is mij soo onmeuchelijck Te rusten als ghij doet.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotes1 omitted by Pijper.
Text Authorship:
- by Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (1585 - 1618), appears in De groote Bron der Minnen [author's text not yet checked 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 Willem Pijper (1894 - 1947), "Snachts rusten meest de dieren", from Acht oud Hollandsche liederen, Deel 2, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Rosalie Marie Wertheim (1888 - 1949), "Liedeken", published 1920 [ voice and piano ], from Bredero-liedjes e.a., no. 3, Amsterdam : Alsbach
Score: Haags Gemeentearchief [external link] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Tinelot Wittermans) , "At night most animals are asleep", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Tinelot Wittermans , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 42
Word count: 196
At night most animals are asleep, People too, good and bad, And my love, being well, Is resting quietly. But I must lonely wander And cross the streets here. I see the clouds moving across the sky, I see the clear moon, I see, that I must sadly stand alone! Oh, dear, will you comfort me And help me with your advice? Oh, are you sleeping, my beloved, While I'm complaining? What use is it to complain now that you're deaf to the world? I must bear it patiently. I wish you a good night. Adieu young princess, Woman of my heart, Adieu and have pleasant dreams And sleep restful and sweet. Oh, it's impossible for me To sleep like you do.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Dutch (Nederlands) to English copyright © by Tinelot Wittermans, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Dutch (Nederlands) by Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (1585 - 1618), appears in De groote Bron der Minnen
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 122