Earth has already gone to rest,
Covering itself with white bed-clothes,
And for a while it has already been lying still,
Like a child that wishes to sleep.

Beside it the [mother-]sun stands and keeps watch,
Until she has brought the child to sleep,
When she has gazed upon it once more,
You see her quietly leave the bedside.

But as she bends down,
Pressing a little kiss upon the [child's] brow,
The child looks at her, smiling:
"Ah mother! I was only pretending!"

Now a little joking goes on for a while,
The child is sent to sleep with hugs,
And carefully covered up again,
So that nothing more may wake its slumbers.

"Now good night and sleep well!
May your guardian angel protect you!"
The mother extinguishes the lamp
And leaves the little chamber.

How the child now slumbers so sweetly!
The white bed-clothes cover it gently --
Slumber softly thus! Your guardian angel keeps watch,
And soon it shall be morning -- good night!