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Mirages
Song Cycle by Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
View original-language texts alone: Mirages
Ma pensée est un cygne harmonieux et sage qui glisse lentement aux rivages d’ennui sur les ondes sans fond du rêve, du mirage, de l’écho, du brouillard, de l’ombre, de la nuit. Il glisse, roi hautain fendant un libre espace, poursuit un reflet vain, précieux et changeant, et les roseaux nombreux s’inclinent lorsqu’il passe, sombre et muet, au seuil d’une lune d’argent ; [ ... ] et des blancs nénuphars chaque corolle ronde tour à tour a fleuri de désir ou d’espoir… Mais plus avant toujours, sur la brume et sur l’onde, vers l’inconnu fuyant glisse le cygne noir. Or j’ai dit : « Renoncez, beau cygne chimérique, à ce voyage lent vers de troubles destins ; nul miracle chinois, nulle étrange Amérique ne vous accueilleront en des havres certains ; les golfes embaumés, les îles immortelles ont pour vous, cygne noir, des récifs périlleux ; demeurez sur les lacs où se mirent, fidèles, ces nuages, ces fleurs, ces astres et ces yeux. [ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Cygne sur l'eau", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 1. De l'eau et des paysages, no. 1, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cigne damunt l'aigua", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "A swan on the water", copyright © 2015
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Schwan auf dem Wasser", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Renée de Brimont, Mirages, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, 1919, pages 7-8.
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Didier Pelat
My mind is a swan, harmonious and wise, That glides slowly over the rivers of ennui, On the bottomless waves of dreams, of mirages, Of echoes, of fog, of shadows, of the night. It glides, a haughty king slicing at unoccupied space, Pursuing a vain reflection, foppish and fickle, And the numerous reeds bow as it passes, Sombre and mute as a silver moon rises; [ ... ] And each round crown of a white water lily In its turn has blossomed from desire or despair... But always as before, on the mist and on the wave, Toward the elusive unknown, the black swan glides. Now I tell it: "Fair and idealistic swan, give up Your slow journey toward troubled destinations; No Chinese miracle, no American oddity Will accept you in assured harbours; "The perfumed bays, the immortal isles Are for you, black swan, dangerous reefs ; Dwell instead on lakes where mirrored faithfully are These clouds, these flowers, these stars, and these eyes." [ ... ]
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Cygne sur l'eau", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 1. De l'eau et des paysages, no. 1, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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This text was added to the website: 2015-09-10
Line count: 36
Word count: 177
Étendue au seuil du bassin, dans l'eau plus froide que le sein des vierges sages, j'ai reflété mon vague ennui, mes yeux profonds couleur de nuit et mon visage. Et dans ce miroir incertain j'ai vu de merveilleux matins… J'ai vu des choses pâles comme des souvenirs, dans l'eau que ne saurait ternir nul vent morose. [ ... ] Alors -- au fond du Passé bleu -- mon corps mince n'était qu'un peu d'ombre mouvante ; sous les lauriers et les cyprès [j'aimais]1 la brise au souffle frais qui nous évente… J'aimais vos caresses de sœur, vos nuances, votre douceur, aube opportune ; et votre pas souple et rythmé, nymphes au rire parfumé, au teint de lune ; et le galop des aegypans, et la fontaine qui s'épand en larmes fades… Par les bois secrets et divins j'écoutais frissonner sans fin l'hamadryade. Ô cher Passé mystérieux qui vous reflétez dans mes yeux comme un nuage, il me serait plaisant et doux, Passé, d'essayer avec vous le long voyage !… [ ... ] Si je glisse, les eaux feront un rond fluide… un autre rond… un autre à peine… Et puis le miroir enchanté reprendra sa limpidité froide et sereine.
Authorship:
- by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Reflets dans l'eau", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 1. De l'eau et des paysages, no. 9, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Reflexes a l’aigua", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Spiegelungen im Wasser", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Renée de Brimont, Mirages, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, 1919, pages 22-24.
1 Fauré: "j'aime"Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Didier Pelat
Nocturne jardin tout empli de silence, voici que la lune ouverte se balance en des voiles d'or fluides et légers ; elle semble proche et cependant lointaine... Son visage rit au cœur de la fontaine et l'ombre pâlit sous les noirs orangers. Nul bruit, si ce n'est le faible bruit de l'onde fuyant goutte à goutte au bord des vasques rondes, ou le bleu frisson d'une brise d'été, furtive parmi des palmes invisibles... Je sais, ô jardin, vos caresses sensibles et votre languide et chaude volupté ! Je sais votre paix délectable et morose, vos parfums d'iris, de jasmins et de roses, vos charmes troublés de désirs et d'ennui... ô jardin muet ! -- L'eau des vasques s'égoutte avec un bruit faible et magique... J'écoute ce baiser qui chante aux lèvres de la Nuit.
Authorship:
- by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Jardin nocturne", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 1. De l'eau et des paysages, no. 23, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Jardí nocturn", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Nocturnal garden", subtitle: "Nocturne in the garden", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Nächtiger Garten", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Renée de Brimont, Mirages, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, 1919, page 53.
Researcher for this page: Didier Pelat
Nocturnal garden all filled with silence, Here is the open moon orbiting Through veils of gold, fluid and light; It seems close although distant... Her visage laughs in the heart of the fountain And shadows grow pale beneath the dark orange trees. There is no sound, other than the faint trickle of water Dripping drop by drop from the edge of round bowls, Or the blue frisson of a summer breeze, Furtively blowing among unseen palms... I know, oh garden, your sensitive caresses And your languid and ready pleasures! I know your delectable, gloomy peace, Your perfumes of jasmine and rose, Your charms disturbed by desire and ennui... Oh mute garden! -- water drips from each bowl With a faint, magical sound... I listen to Each kiss, singing on the lips of Night.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Jardin nocturne", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 1. De l'eau et des paysages, no. 23, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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Subtitle: "Nocturne in the garden"
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-03
Line count: 18
Word count: 132
Sœur des Sœurs tisseuses de violettes,
une ardente veille blémit tes joues...
Danse ! Et que les rythmes aigus dénouent
tes bandelettes.
Vase svelte, fresque mouvante et souple,
danse, danse, paumes vers nous tendues,
pieds étroits fuyant, tels des ailes nues
qu'Eros découple...
[ ... ]
Sois la fleur multiple un peu balancée,
sois l'écharpe offerte au désir qui change,
sois la lampe chaste, la flamme étrange,
sois la pensée !
Danse, danse au chant de ma flûte creuse,
sœur des Sœurs divines. -- La moiteur glisse,
baiser vain, le long de ta hanche lisse...
Vaine danseuse !
Authorship:
- by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Danseuse", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 2. Des songes et des paroles, no. 2, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Ballarina", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Dancing-girl", copyright © 2013
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Tänzerin", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Renée de Brimont, Mirages, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, 1919, pages 63-64.
Beneath the title is the Greek inscription "ἔγω φαμι ίοπλόχων / Mοισαν εύ λάχεμεν"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Didier Pelat
Sister of sisters, weaver of purple cloth!
Last night's revelry turns your cheeks pale...
Dance! Let the sharp rythms loosen
Your ribbons.
Slender vase, moving and supple frieze,
Dance, dance, palms held towards us,
Feet close together, receding like those naked wings
That Eros cuts out.
[ ... ]
Be one of the many flowers swaying a little,
Be the scarf offered on a whim,
Be the chaste lamp, the odd flame.
Be the thought!
Dance, dance to the song of my hollowed-out flute,
Sister of Sisters divine,... sweatiness sliding,
Pointless kissing along your smooth thighs...
Vain dancing-girl!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2013 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Renée de Brimont, Mme la Baronne (1880 - 1943), "Danseuse", written 1919, appears in Mirages, in 2. Des songes et des paroles, no. 2, Paris, Émile-Paul Frères, first published 1919
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This text was added to the website: 2013-09-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 103