by
Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637)
Weep with me all you that read
Language: English
Available translation(s): FRE
Weep with me all [you]1 that read
This little story;
And know, for whom a tear you shed
Death's self is sorry.
'Twas a child that so did thrive
In grace and feature,
As Heaven and Nature seem'd to strive
Which own'd the creature.
Years he number'd scarce thirteen
When Fates turn'd cruel,
Yet three fill'd zodiacs had he been
The stage's jewel;
And did act (what now we moan)
Old men so duly,
As sooth the Parcæ thought him one,
He play'd so truly.
So, by error, to his fate
They all consented;
But, viewing him since, alas, too late!
They have repented;
And have sought, to give new birth,
In baths to steep him;
But, being so much too good for earth,
Heaven vows to keep him.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray. Vol. XL. The Harvard Classics, New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14.
1 Browne: "ye"
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Tim Palmer) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 129
Pleurez avec moi tous qui lisent
Language: French (Français)  after the English
Pleurez avec moi tous qui lisent
cette petite histoire;
et savez que pour qui vous versez des larmes
la Mort soi-même est désolée.
C’était un enfant florissant
en grâce et trait
que le Ciel et la Nature semblaient lutter
Qui possédait l’être.
Il avait à peine treize ans
quand les Parques devennaient cruelles,
toutefois pendant trois années complètes avait-il été
le joyau de la scène;
et il jouait (et maintenant quoi nous gémissons)
viellards sagement,
tant que vraiement les Parques pensaient qu’il était l’un des leurs,
il jouait tellement bien.
Ainsi par erreur à son destin
ils se sont tous mis d’accord;
mais l’ayant vu depuis, hélas, trop tard!
ils se sont repentis;
et ils ont essayé de lui faire revivre,
en lui faisant tremper dans des bains;
mais car il était beaucoup trop bon pour la terre,
Le ciel est résolu de lui garder.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Epitaph on Salathiel Pavy" = "Épitaphe sur Salathiel Pavy" (un enfant de la Chapelle de la Reine Elizabeth I)
Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2017 by Tim Palmer, (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 English by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637), "On Salathiel Pavy, a Child of Queen Elizabeth’s Chapel"
This text was added to the website: 2017-07-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 145