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Now the night draws in

Now the night draws in,
Man and beast, free from toil,
Find their long-sought rest;
My sorrow comes upon me.

Beautiful shines the moon
And the tiny glinting stars;
All is happy, far and wide,
Only I am lost in sadness.

Two stars are missing among
The host of beautiful stars;
I mean those stars that shine
From the eyes of my beloved.

I don’t care about the moon,
The light from the stars is dim;
For turned away from me
Is Asteris my firmament.

But when she leans towards me,
My most beautiful of suns,
Then I think it best of all
When no star or moon shines.

English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Jetzund kömpt die Nacht herbey by Johann Nauwach (1595-1630). Published in Teütscher Villanellen, Theil 1, (1627). Text by Martin Opitz, Ode IV, from Oden und Gesänge (1618).
See the copyright notice below.

Jetzund kömpt die Nacht herbey

Jetzund kömpt die Nacht herbey,
Vieh und Menschen werden frey,
Die gewüntschte Ruh geht an;
Meine Sorge kömpt heran.  

Schöne gläntzt der Mondenschein;
Und die Gülden Sternelein;
Froh ist alles weit und breit,
Ich nur bin in Traurigkeit.  

Zweene mangeln uberall
An der schönen Sternen Zahl;  
Diese Sternen die ich mein’
Ist der Liebsten Augenschein.

Nach dem Monden frag’ ich nicht,  
Dunckel ist der Sternen Liecht;  
Weil sich von mir weggewendt  
Asteris mein Firmament.

Wann sich aber neigt zu mir  
Dieser meiner Sonnen Ziehr,  
Acht’ ich es das beste seyn,
Daß kein Stern noch Monde schein?

Recording. Performed by The Archduke's Consort on their CD 'Mr Dowland and his travels'. Fiona Stuart-Wilson (voice), Guillermo Femenías (archlute) and Xisco Aguiló (violone da gamba).

Link: https://soundcloud.com/user-894311142/jetzund-kompt-die-nacht-herbei-johann-nauwach

Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.

For more translations into English of early music texts, go to:
Translations of early music texts.

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