Die ihr schwebet (You who hover)

Set by

• Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), "Geistliches Wiegenlied" (Spiritual lullaby), op. 91 no. 2.

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  Die ihr schwebet	You who hover
  Um diese Palmen	Around these palms
  In Nacht und Wind,	In night and wind,
  Ihr heilgen Engel,	You holy angels,
  Stillet die Wipfel!	Silence the treetops,
  Es schlummert mein Kind.	My child is sleeping.
  Ihr Palmen von Bethlehem	You palms of Bethlehem
  Im Windesbrausen,	In the roaring wind,
  Wie mögt ihr heute	How can you today
  So zornig sausen!	Bluster so angrily!
  O rauscht nicht also!	O roar not so!
  Schweiget, neiget	Be still, bow
  Euch leis und lind;	Softly and gently;
  Stillet die Wipfel!	Silence the treetops!
  Es schlummert mein Kind.	My child is sleeping.
  Der Himmelsknabe	The child of heaven
  Duldet Beschwerde,	Endures the discomfort,
  Ach, wie so müd er ward	Oh, how tired he has become
  Vom Leid der Erde.	Of earthly sorrow.
  Ach nun im Schlaf ihm	Oh, now in sleep,
  Leise gesänftigt	Gently softened,
  Die Qual zerrinnt,	His pain fades,
  Stillet die Wipfel!	Silence the treetops!
  Es schlummert mein Kind.	My child is sleeping.
  Grimmige Kälte	Fierce cold
  Sauset hernieder,	Comes rushing,
  Womit nur deck ich	How shall I cover
  Des Kindleins Glieder!	The little child's limbs?
  O all ihr Engel,	O all you angels,
  Die ihr geflügelt	You winged ones
  Wandelt im Wind,	Wandering in the wind.
  Stillet die Wipfel!	Silence the treetops!
  Es schlummert mein kind.	My child is sleeping.

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  Original Spanish

  Cantarcillo de la Virgen (Little Canticle of the Virgin)

  Pues andáis en las palmas,	As you rummage through the palms,
  ángeles santos,	holy angels,
  que se duerme mi niño,	that my child might sleep,
  tened los ramos.	still the branches.
  Palmas de Belén	Palms of Bethlehem
  que mueven airados	that the furious winds,
  los furiosos vientos	which sound so much,
  que suenan tanto:	move angrily:
  no le hagáis ruido,	do not make noise,
  corred más paso,	run more slowly,
  que se duerme mi niño,	that my child might sleep,
  tened los ramos.	still the branches.
  El niño divino,	The divine child,
  que está cansado	that is weary
  de llorar en la tierra	of the sorrows of the earth,
  por su descanso,	for his rest,
  sosegar quiere un poco	he wishes a little
  del tierno llanto.	respite from his tender weeping.
  Que se duerme mi niño,	That my child might sleep,
  tened los ramos.	still the branches.
  Rigurosos yelos	Harsh cold
  le están cercando;	surrounds him;
  ya veis que no tengo	and you see I have nothing
  con qué guardarlo.	to protect him.
  Ángeles divinos	Angels divine
  que váis volando,	that go on flying,
  que se duerme mi niño,	that my child might sleep,
  tened los ramos.	still the branches.

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