August von Platen: How I roused myself in the Night

Wie rafft’ ich mich auf in der Nacht

by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796-1835): 1820.

Set by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) , op. 32 (Neun Lieder und Gesänge) no. 1 (1864). Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust, from The Lied & Art Song Texts Page

Oh, how I roused myself in the night, in the night.

And felt myself drawn further;

I left the alleys, guarded by the watchmen,

And wandered through quietly,

In the night, in the night,

The gate with the Gothic arch.

The mill brook rushed through the rocky gorge.

I leaned over the bridge,

Observing far below me the waves,

Which rolled so quietly,

In the night, in the night,

Yet never did one roll back.

Overhead wanders the infinite, flickering,

Melodic traffic of the stars.

With them, the moon in calm splendor;

They gleam quietly

In the night, in the night.

At a deceptively remote distance.

I gaze up into the night, in the night,

And gaze down again anew:

Alas, how have you spent the day!

Now, softly you try to still,

In the night, in the night,

The remorse of your pounding heart!