How gently and quietly 
he smiles, 
how fondly 
he opens his eyes! 
Do you see, friends? 
Do you not see? 
How he shines 
ever brighter, 
soaring on high, 
stars sparkling around him? 
Do you not see? 
How his heart 
proudly swells 
and, brave and full, 
pulses in his breast? 
How softly and gently 
from his lips 
sweet breath flutters – 
see, friends! 
Do you not feel and see it? 
Do I alone 
hear this melody 
which, so wondrous 
and tender
in its blissful lament, 
all-revealing, 
gently pardoning, 
sounding from him, 
pierces me through, 
rises above, 
blessedly echoing 
and ringing round me? 
Resounding yet more clearly, 
wafting about me, 
are they waves 
of refreshing breezes? 
Are they clouds 
of heavenly fragrance? 
As they swell 
and roar round me, 
shall I breathe them, 
shall I listen to them? 
Shall I sip them, 
plunge beneath them, 
to expire in sweet perfume? 
In the surging swell, 
in the ringing sound, 
in the vast wave 
of the world's breath – 
to drown, 
to sink 
unconscious – 
supreme bliss!