MIDNIGHT.
Um Mitternacht bin ich erwacht
Friedrich Rückert
trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1869
At dead of night Sleep took her flight. I gazed abroad, no star of all the crowds the clouds That people heaven, was smiling through To cheer my sight That dreary night. | At dead of night I scaled the height Of giddy question o'er our mortal lot; My searchings found no answer, brought me not One ray of light In that deep night. | At dead of night In still affright I turned and listened to my throbbing heart; One pulse of pain alone, whose ancient smart Had dimmed sweet light, Beat there that night. | At dead of night I fought the fight Humanity, of all thy pain and woes; My strength could not decide it, and my foes O'erwhelmed me quite At dead of night. | 338 At dead of night All power and might I yielded, Lord of life and death, to Thee, And learnt Thou watchedst with me, and that we Are in Thy sight In deepest night! | |