by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Nachtwandler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Störe nicht den leisen Schlummer
Dess, den lind ein Traum umfangen!
Laß ihm seinen süßen Kummer!
Ihm sein schmerzliches Verlangen!

Sorgen und Gefahren drohen,
Aber keine wird ihm schrecken,
Kommst du nicht, den Schlafesfrohen
Durch ein hartes Wort zu wecken.

Still in seinen Traum versunken,
Geht er über Abgrundtiefen,
wie vom Licht des Vollmonds trunken,
Weh' den Lippen, die ihn riefen!

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) , "Caminant de nit", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Slaapwandelaar", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Night wanderer", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le marcheur de nuit", copyright © 2010, (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: 12
Word count: 61

Night wanderer
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Disturb not the gentle slumber
Of one encircled by a relieving dream!
Leave him his sweet anguish!
[Leave] him his painful yearning!

Troubles and dangers may threaten,
But none will frighten him;
Do not come to the happily-sleeping man
To awaken him through some harsh word.

Silently lost in his dream,
He traverses deep chasms,
as if drunk from the full moon's light;
Woe to the lips that would call out to him!

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: 12
Word count: 73