Natthimmelen

A poem (featured in Fanny and Alexander!) which I translated into Latin and English last Thanksgiving.

Natthimmelen – Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783–1847)


Ensam jag skrider fram på min bana,
Längre och längre sträcker sig vägen;
Ack, uti fjärran döljes mitt mål.

Dagen sig sänker. Nattlig blir rymden.

Snart blott de eviga stjärnor jag ser.

Men jag ej klagar flyende dagen,
Ej mig förfärar stundande natten;
Ty av den kärlek, som går genom världen,

Föll ock en strimma in i min själ. 

***

Perditus palor per opaca campi;

Diffugit callis tegiturque meta.
Mox nihil nunquam interitura præter
Sidera cerno.

At nihil plango volucres dies, nil

Appropinquantes tenebras. nec umbra 

Vesperis nec me truculenta mortis
Terret imago.

Namque per cunctum fluit alma mundum 

Caritas (sævum licet omne numen)
Cujus ex amni radiosa gutta
Me quoque tinxit. 

***

Alone I have wandered off from my pathway;

Longer and longer the track ahead stretches.
Ah! I can make out its ending no more.
Day sinks to twilight. Night swallows earth. Soon

Naught is to see but the undying stars.

Still I shall grieve not for days that are fleeting;

Nor shall approaching darkness appal me –
For of that love which goes through creation
A shimmer has fallen into my soul.