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Sonne du sinkst! Sonne du sinkst! Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne! Still und ruhig ist deines Scheidens Gang, Rührend und feyerlich deines Scheidens Schweigen. Wehmuth lächelt dein freundliches Auge; Thränen entträufeln den goldenen Wimpern; Segnungen strömst du der [duftenden]1 Erde. Immer tiefer, Immer leiser, Immer [ernster und feyerlicher]2 [Sinkst]3 du [den Aether hinab]4! Sonne du sinkst! Sonne du sinkst! Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne! Es segnen die Völker, Es säuseln die Lüfte, Es [räuchern die dampfenden Wiesen]5 dir nach; Winde durchrieseln dein [lockiges]6 Haar; [Wogen]7 kühlen die brennende Wange; Weit auf thut sich dein Wasserbett - Ruh' in Frieden! [Schlummr']8 in Wonne! Die Nachtigall flötet dir Schlummergesang. Sonne du sinkst! Sonne du sinkst! Sink' in Frieden, o Sonne! Schön sinkt sichs nach den Schweißen des Tag's, Schön in die Arme der Ruhe Nach [wohlbestandenem]9 [Tagwerk]10. Du hast dein Tagwerk bestanden, Du hast es glorreich vollendet, Hast Welten erleuchtet und Welten erwärmt, Den Schooß der Erde befruchtet, Die schwellenden Knospen geröthet, Der Blumen Kelche geöffnet, Die grünen Saaten gezeitigt, Hast Welten [gesäuget]11 und Welten erquickt - Geliebt und Liebe geerntet, Gesegnet und rings mit Segnungen Dein rollendes Haar bekränzt. Schlummre sanft Nach den Schweißen des Tags; Erwache freudig Nach verjüngendem Schlummer! Erwach' ein junger freudiger Held! Erwach' zu neuen Thaten! Dein harrt die lechzende Schöpfung; Dein harren [Au']12 und Wiesen; Dein harren Vögel und Heerden; Dein harrt der Wandrer im Dunkeln; Dein harrt der Schiffer in Stürmen; Dein harrt der Kranke im Siechbett; Dein harret der Wonnen [seligste]13: [Die Wonne zu lieben, und zu werden geliebt Der Seligkeiten unaussprechlichste: Die hohe vergötternde Seligkeit, wohlzuthun!]14 Sink' in Frieden! Schlummr' in Ruhe! Erwach' in Entzückungen, Sonne!
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1-5
Confirmed with L.T.Kosegarten's Poesieen, Neueste Auflage, Erster Band, Berlin 1803, pages 241-243. This is the source used by Schubert. Kosegarten's poem is slightly different in earlier and later editions.
Note: The title of the first version (1788) is "An die scheidende Sonne".
1 1788 edition: "triefenden"2 1798 edition: "ernster und fey'rlicher"; Schubert: "ernster, feierlicher"
3 Schubert: "sinkest"
4 1788 edition: "die Lüfte hinab"; 1798 and 1802 edition: "die Lüfte nach" (the errata section of the 1802 edition changes this to "den Aether hinab", however); later editions (since 1813): "den Azur hinab"
5 1788 edition: "damfen die rauchenden Fluren"
6 1788 edition: "lokkigt"
7 later editions (since 1813): "Wellen"
8 Schubert: "Ruh'"
9 1788 edition: "wohlbestandnem"
10 1802 and 1803 editions: "Tagewerk"
11 later editions (since 1813): "gesäugt"
12 later editions (since 1813): "die Au'"
13 1788 edition: "wonnigste"
14 different in later editions (since 1813):
Die Wonne liebend geliebt zu seyn! Der Seligkeiten unausredbarste: Selber beseligt zu seyn, derweil du andre beseligst.
Text Authorship:
- by Ludwig Gotthard Theobul Kosegarten (1758 - 1818), "An die untergehende Sonne", written 1787 [author's text checked 2 times 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 die untergehende Sonne", op. 44, D 457 (1817), published 1827, stanzas 1-5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al sol ponent", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan de ondergaande zon", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "To the setting sun", copyright ©
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "To the setting sun", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Au soleil couchant", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Mercedes Vivas) , "Al sol en el ocaso", copyright © 2011, (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: 60
Word count: 287
Sun, you are sinking, Sun, you are sinking; Set in peace, o sun! Your departure is quiet and placid; the silence of your farewell is stirring and solemn. A wistfulness smiles from your friendly eyes, and tears trickle down your golden lashes; you radiate benedictions upon the aromatic earth. Ever deeper, ever softer, ever more solemn and serious do you sink into the ether. Sun, you are sinking, Sun, you are sinking; Set in peace, o sun! The people bless you, the wind rustles, the meadows grow misty after you pass, winds ripple through your curly hair; the waves cool your burning cheeks; your watery bed is broad. Set in peace, set in bliss! The nightingale is piping a lullaby. Sun, you are sinking, Sun, you are sinking; Set in peace, o sun!
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Gotthard Theobul Kosegarten (1758 - 1818), "An die untergehende Sonne", written 1787
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 133