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May, the year's heart, begins

May, the year’s heart, begins
Through the power of the sun's rays
To colour fields, mountains and valleys,
So everything takes on new jewelry.
Trees grow a food market for bees
With their leaves and precious nectar,
And for the medical profession
The herbs in field and garden are green.

And you, my heart, are inert and cold,
Are you still given to hide
Under foul winter blankets,
To hold back, to hide your sensuality?
My heart, be moved by nature!
So you receive a blessing
From high as if it were sunshine,
And precious words fall like golden rain.

Rejuvenate yourself, and cast off
Your outward cloak of virtue,
As if from God's soul pasture
Take on the lily-white mantle,
The holiness of living worthily.
For otherwise, the tree of life
Will not make room for you
And you will be given no branch.

English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Der Mai, des Jahres Herz, beginnt by Heinrich Albert (1604-1651). Published in Arien, Dritten Teil, 1652. Words by the Prussian poet Simon Dach (1605-1659).
See the copyright notice below.

Der Mai, des Jahres Herz, beginnt

Der Mai, des Jahres Herz, beginnt
Durch Kraft der Sonnenstrahlen
Feld, Berg und Tal zu malen,
Dass alles neuen Schmuck gewinnt.
Der Baum, ein Speisemarkt der Bienen
Trägt Laub und edlen Saft,
Der Ärzte Wissenschaft
Die Feld- und Gartenkräuter grünen.

Und du, mein Herz, bist träg und kalt,
Gibst noch dich zu verstecken
Der faulen Winterdecken,
Der Wollust Schirm und Aufenthalt?
Mein lass dich die Natur bewegen!
Des höchsten Gnadenschein
Wird deine Sonne sein,
Sein teures Wort dein güldner Regen.

Verjünge dich, und brich herfür
Mit deinem Tugendkleide
Als Gottes Seelenweide
Nimm an die lilienweiße Zier,
Der Heiligkeit, recht fromm zu leben.
Wo nicht, so wird der Baum
Des Lebens keinen Raum
Sein Zweig hinfort zu sein, dir geben.

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:
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