from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Himmelsboten
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA JPN
Der Mondschein, der ist schon verblichen,
die finstre Nacht ist hingeschlichen;
steh auf, du edle Morgenröt',
zu dir all mein Vertrauen steht.

Phöbus, ihr Vorbot' wohlgeziert,
hat schon den Wagen angeschirrt,
die Sonnenross' sind vorgespannt,
Zügel ruht in seiner Hand.

Ihr Vorbot', der Don Lucifer,
schwebt allbereits am Himmel her,
er hat die Wolken aufgeschlossen,
die Erd' mit seinem Tau begossen.

O fahrt vor ihr Schlafkämmerlein,
weckt leis die süße Liebste mein,
verkündet ihr, was ich euch sag':
Mein Dienst, mein Gruß, ein' guten Tag.

Doch müßt ihr sie fein züchtig wecken,
dabei meine heimliche Lieb' entdecken,
sollt sagen, wie ihr Diener wacht
so kummervoll die ganze Nacht.

Schaut für mich an die gelben Haar',
ihr Hälslein blank, ihr Äuglein klar;
küßt ihr für mich den roten Mund
und, wenn sie's leid't, die Brüstlein rund.

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) , "Missatgers del cel", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Hemelboden", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Messengers from Heaven", copyright ©
  • ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "The Angel's Love‑Message", first published 1897
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Messaggeri del cielo", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • JPN Japanese (日本語) (Naoyuki Okada) , "天の使者", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 135

Messengers from Heaven
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 The moonlight has turned pale already
 and the dark night has slunk away;
 awaken, noble Dawn,
 all my assurance lies with you.
 
 Phoebus, your well-adorned herald,
 has already harnessed his chariot;
 the sun-steeds are ready
 and his riding whip lies in his hand.
 
 Your other herald, Don Lucifer,
 hovers ready in the sky:
 he has unlocked the clouds
 that sprinkle the earth with his dew.
 
 O travel past her bedroom chamber,
 awaken gently my sweet love,
 declare to her what I say to you:
 my servitude, my greeting, and a good day.
 
 But you must awaken her very discreetly,
 revealing my secret love thereby,
 and you should tell her that her servant stands in vigil
 through the entire night, full of heartache.
 
 Look for me at her yellow hair,
 her bare throat, her clear eyes;
 kiss her red mouth for me
 and, if she suffers it, her round breasts.

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,
    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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 150