Memorial
Translations © by Jean-Pierre Granger
Song Cycle by Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912)
View original-language texts alone: Poème du souvenir
Lève-toi, chère ensevelie ! Déchire ton linceuil de fleurs. Tu n'as pas oublié mes pleurs ? -- La plus [chère]1 larme s'oublie. Je te retrouve un peu pâlie : Qui t'a pris tes chères couleurs ? -- J'ai longtemps dormi sous [les]2 fleurs, Et le plus doux charme s'oublie ! Je ne sais par quelle folie, Je t'aime encore sous tes pâleurs ? Viens !... les roses boiront tes pleurs ! -- Le chemin des roses l'oublie ! Je meurs de ta mélancholie. Viennent de nouvelles douleurs ! C'est le printemps ! Cueillons des fleurs ! Lève-toi, chère ensevelie !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "Réveil", Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1872
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
Confirmed with Armand Silvestre, Poésies, 1866-1872, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1872, page 93.
1 Massenet: "douce"2 Massenet: "des"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Arise, dear buried one, Tear up your shroud of flowers! Haven't you forgotten my tears? One can forget the softest tear. I meet you again, you've grown a little pale; Who took away your beloved colours? For a long time have I slept under the flowers, And one can forget the softest charm! Ah! I don't know if I am a fool, I still love your paleness; Come, roses will drink your tears! The road of roses forgets it. I die from your melancholy! New pains are to come! It is springtime! Let us pick up flowers! Arise, dear buried one!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "Réveil", Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1872
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Translation of title "Lève-toi" = "Arise"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 101
L'air du soir emportait sous les feuillages sombres, Comme un parfum du ciel, l'âme des voluptés ; Les rêves se levaient partout avec les ombres ; -- Celle qui fut mon cœur était à mes côtés. Nous suivions les grands bois, parmi l'herbe mouillée, L'air au front, l'œil au ciel, la bruyère aux genoux, Et comme elle sortait, blanche, de la feuillée, Une source se prit à gémir près de nous. Ce sanglot sans pitié, poursuivant mon oreille, S'en fut jusqu'à mon cœur joyeux et l'affligea : -- La santé fleurissait, sa beauté sans pareille, Et je cherchais pourquoi l'on pleurait déjà !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "L'air du soir emportait sous les feuillages sombres", written 1868, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 2, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1870
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
Confirmed with Les Renaissances par Armand Silvestre, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1870, pages 111-112.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
The evening breeze was carried away under the dark canopy, Like a scent from the sky, the soul of sensual pleasures; Dreams rose everywhere with the ghosts; She who was my heart was by my side. We walked along the great woods on wet grass, A breeze on [our] foreheads, [our] eyes to the sky, the heath at our knees. And as it issued out, white, from the leaves, A spring started moaning near us. This merciless sobbing haunting my ear Went right to my heart and made it grieve; Health flourished, its beauty without equal; And I tried to find why we were crying again!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "L'air du soir emportait sous les feuillages sombres", written 1868, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 2, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1870
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Translation of title "L'air du soir emportait" = "The evening breeze was carried away"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 106
Un souffle de parfums s'élève Des taillis profonds, où son rêve Suivait le vol d'un long espoir ... Me vient-il de sa lèvre amie ? -- Non ! ce sont les fleurs que le soir Mêle à bruyère endormie. Une musique douce et frèle Sur mes pas murmure pour elle L'adieu à tout ce qu'elle fuit... Mon Dieu, j'entends sa voix dans l'ombre. -- Non ! c'est la chanson que la nuit Apprend tout bas au grand bois sombre. Nuit auguste, bois solitaire Qui voilez d'un double mystère Le secret des bonheurs passés, Rendez-moi l'haleine embaumée, Et les cheveux des fleurs tressés, Et la voix de la bien-aimée !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 19
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
A breath of perfume rises From the shrubs, where its dream Followed the flight of long hope; Does it come from your lips, my beloved? No! Those are the flowers that the night Blends with the sleeping heath. A soft and frail music Whispers for her as I walk The farewell to all she flees; My God! I hear her voice in the shadows! No! It is the song that the night Teaches quietly to the dark wood. Impressive night, lonely wood, Who steals from a double mystery The secret of past happiness, Give me back the perfumed breath, And the hair of braided flowers, And the voice of my beloved.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 19
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Translation of title "Un souffle de parfums" = "A breath of perfume"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 111
Dans l'air plein de fils de soie, Montaient les lys palpitants, Les lys que l'aube déploie: Ma mie était toute joie... Oh ! le beau jour de printemps ! L'air où flottait la caresse D'un clair de lune [enchanté]1, Baignait ma blanche maîtresse. Ma mie était toute ivresse... Oh ! la [belle]2 nuit d'été ! [Le vent]3 qui siffle à ma porte, Seul, bat mon seuil entr'ouvert. Ma plainte, le vent l'emporte : Ma mie est peut-être morte !... Oh! le triste soir d'hiver !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 20
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
1 Massenet: "argenté"
2 Massenet: "douce"
3 Massenet: "L'air froid"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
In the air filled with silk threads Rise the throbbing lilies, Lilies spread by the dawn: My sweetheart was filled with happiness! Oh! The beautiful day of springtime! The air where floats the caress Of a silvery moonlight Surrounded my white Mistress; My sweetheart was in deep euphoria! Oh! The soft summer night! The cold air that whistles at my door Beats alone my half-opened door; My complaints, the wind carries them away! Sweetheart may be dead! Oh! the sad winter eve!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 20
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Translation of title "Dans l'air plein de fils de soie" = "In the air filled with silk threads"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 15
Word count: 82
Pour qu'à l'espérance il ne cède, J'ai muré mon cœur révolté Dans la morne fidélité Du souvenir qui le possède. Vers l'horizon où l'aube a lui, Pour qu'un vain rêve ne l'emporte, Comme une inexorable porte, J'ai fermé le Passé sur lui. J'ai dit : Ma part me fut comptée D'aimer sans en pouvoir mourir. -- L'ombre est douce à qui veut souffrir ; Que me ferait l'aube enchantée ? Puisque ne peut m'être rendu L'heur de revoir le doux visage Qui fut ma joie et mon courage Et que, perdant, j'ai tout perdu !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 4, first published 1870
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
Confirmed with Les Renaissances par Armand Silvestre, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1870, pages 113-115.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
So that my appalled heart doesn't yield to hope, I have built a wall around it, In the gloomy loyalty To the memory that possesses it. Toward the horizon where the Morning glowed, In hope that no futile dream takes it away, Like a unforgiving door, I closed the Past to it. I said: My fate has been set for me, To love without being able to die from it; The shade is sweet for he who wants to suffer. What would the enchanted Morning do to me? -- Since the hour cannot be given back to me To see again that gentle face That was my Joy and my Courage; [For] by losing it, I lost everything!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 4, first published 1870
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Translation of title "Pour qu'à l'espérance" = "So that my appalled heart doesn't yield to hope"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 117
[ ... ] Souvenir éternel, regret inconsolé, Amour qui fus ma vie et qui t'es envolé, [ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 1
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jean-Pierre Granger)
Confirmed with Les Renaissances par Armand Silvestre, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1870, pages 110-111.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
[ ... ] Eternal memory, unsoothing regret, Love that was my life and that flew away. [ ... ]
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English by Jean-Pierre Granger
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Les Renaissances, in 5. À travers l'âme, in 2. Le Passé, no. 1
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Translation of title "Épitaphe" = "Epitaph"
Note: the translator has released this translation into the public domain.
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 23