Gegangen ist das Sonnenlicht

Author: Ernst Moritz Arndt

Arndt, Ernst Moritz, son of Ludwig Nicolaus Arndt, estate manager for Count Putbus, in the island of Rugen, was b. at Schoritz in Rugen, Dec. 26, 1769. After studying at the Universities of Greifswald and Jena, where he completed his theological course under Paulus, he preached for two years as a candidate, but in 1798 abandoned theology. After a pedestrian tour through South Germany, Hungary, Northern Italy, France, and Belgium, he became, at Easter 1800, lecturer at the University of Greifswald, and in 1805 professor of history there. But in 1806, lamenting over the tyranny of France, he wrote his fiery Gent der Zeit (pt. ii. 1809, iii. 1813, iv. 1818) which awakened the patriotism of his countrymen, but drew on him the hatred of Napoleon… Go to person page >

Gegangen ist dat Sonnenlicht. [Evening.] Written in 1813, and first published 1818 (vol. ii. p. 230) as above, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines entitled: "The traveller's evening hymn." Tr. as (1) "The sunlight has departed," by Dr. Maguire, 1883, p. 49; (2) "The fields and woods all silence keep," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 112.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)