Translation:The Young Man's Love/X

by Ludwig Tieck

10: Sorrow

How soon the light fades:
So soon fades all glory.
Morning breaks and finds
A withered wreath

That yesterday bloomed
In all its splendour;
For it has faded
In the dark night.

The stream of life
Floats by.
It blushes brightly,
For its hopes are frustrated.

The sun declines;
The red blush is put to flight;
The shadow rises,
And darkness draws on.

So floats love
Into the wastelands,
Ah, that it might linger
Until the grave!

But we awaken
To deeper torment.
Our vessel founders;
The light is put out.

From the fair land
We are driven far far away
To a desolate shore
Where night surrounds us.