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Nicolas, faisons bonne chère, Pendant qu'en avons le loisir, Trompons le soin et la misère Ennemis de notre plaisir. Purgeons l'humeur qui nous enflamme D'avarice et d'ambition, Ayons, philosophes, une âme Franche de toute passion, Chassons le soin, chassons la peine, Contentons-nous de n'être rien, Quand notre âme sera bien saine Tout le corps se portera bien. Quand la fièvre, dont la mémoire Me fait encore frissonner Ne t'aurait appris qu'à bien boire, Tu ne la dois abandonner : Bois ! bois souvent, et bois encore, bois ! À toutes les fois que l'envie Te prendra de boire, rebois ! Bois souvent, aussi bien la vie N'est pas si longue que le doigt. Nicolas ! bois encore, bois encore, bois !
The text shown is a variant of another text.
It is based on
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585), "À Simon Nicolas, Secretaire du Roy", appears in Les Odes, no. 13, first published 1584
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Théodore Gouvy (1819 - 1898), "À Nicolas", op. 43 (Quatre chansons) no. 2, published 1876 [voice and piano], from 40 Poèmes de Ronsard, no. 38, Paris : Richault [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , "To Nicholas", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Linda Godry) (Heide Wiesner) , "Für Nicolas", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Vinzenz Haab
Text added to the website: 2012-08-12 00:00:00
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:04:24
Line count: 22
Word count: 121
Nicolas, let's make good cheer While we still have the time ; Outwit care and misery, The enemies of our pleasure. Sweep away the ill-humour which inflames us With avarice and ambition; Have, like philosophers, a soul Free of all passion. Chase away care, chase away troubles, Content ourselves with being nothing, When our soul is pure The whole body will be well. Since the fever (the memory of which Still makes me shiver) Would have taught you only to drink well, You should not give it up. Drink! Drink often, drink again, drink! On every occasion when the desire To drink takes you, drink again! Drink often, and then life Is no longer than a finger. Nicolas! Drink again, drink again, drink!
Authorship
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2014 by David Wyatt, (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:
- a text in French (Français) by Not Applicable [an adaptation]
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585), "À Simon Nicolas, Secretaire du Roy", appears in Les Odes, no. 13, first published 1584
Text added to the website: 2014-01-14 00:00:00
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:05:28
Line count: 22
Word count: 123