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On a bank of flow'rs in a summer's day, For summer lightly drest, The youthful, blooming Nelly lay With love and sleep opprest ; When Willie, wand'ring thro' the wood, Who for her favour oft had su'd. He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, And trembled where he stood. Her closed eyes, like weapons sheath'd, Were seal'd in soft repose ; Her lips, still as she fragrant breath'd, It richer dy'd the rose : The springing lilies sweetly prest, Wild, wanton, kiss'd her rival breast; He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, His bosom ill at rest. Her robes light waving in the breeze, Her tender limbs embrace ; Her lovely form, her native ease, All harmony and grace: Tumultuous tides his pulses roll, A faltering, ardent kiss he stole : He gaz'd, he wish'd, He fear'd, he blush'd, And sigh'd his very soul. As flies the partridge from the brake On fear-inspired wings, So Nelly, starting, half awake, Away affrighted springs. But Willy follow'd — as he shou'd : He overtook her in the wood ; He vow'd, he pray'd, He found the maid Forgiving all and good.
Confirmed with The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Cambridge edition, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1897, page 218.
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On a bank of flowers" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "On a bank of flowers", Hob. XXXIa no. 142, JHW. XXXII/2 no. 142. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Sur une berge fleurie", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-28
Line count: 36
Word count: 191
Un jour d'été, sur une berge fleurie, Légèrement vêtue pour l'été, La jeune, florissante Nelly était allongée, Oppressée par l'amour et le sommeil ; Quand Willie, errant dans le bois arriva Où il avait souvent recherché ses faveurs , Il contempla, il espéra, Il craignit, il rougit, Et trembla là ou il était.. Ses yeux fermés, comme une arme rengainée, Étaient scellés par un tendre repos ; Ses lèvres, immobiles pendant sa respiration parfumée, Étaient d'une teinte plus vive que la rose : Les lis nouveaux doucement pressés, Vifs, fripons, baisaient sa poitrine si blanche ; Il contempla, il espéra, Il craignit, il rougit, Son cœur paralysé. Sa robe flottant légèrement dans la brise Embrassait ses membres délicats ; Sa silhouette adorable, son indolence naturelle N'étaient que grâce et harmonie : Des vagues tumultueuses agitant son pouls, Dans son trouble, il vola un baiser ardent : Il contempla, il espéra, Il craignit, il rougit, Et soupira de toute son âme. Telle la perdrix qui s'envole des fougères Sur ses ailes inspirées par la peur, Nelly, à-demi réveillée, se mit À fuir avec des bonds effrayés. Mais Willie la suivit, comme il se doit : Il la rattrapa dans le bois ; Il jura, il pria, Il trouva la fille Bonne et pardonnant tout.
Authorship:
- Translation from Scottish (Scots) to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Pierre Mathé, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On a bank of flowers"
This text was added to the website: 2014-11-25
Line count: 36
Word count: 213