by Henry Gauthier-Villars (1859 - 1931)
Translation by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913)
À Lucette
Language: French (Français)
Available translation(s): ENG
D'un grand mal j'ay l'âme dolente, J'erre sans conseil ni dessein, Bruslé par une fièvre lente Qui faist la figue au médecin. Las ! d'amour la fine sagette A navré mon cœur langoureux, Ce cœur que seule, ô ma Lucette, Tu peux guérir si tu le veux, Ce cœur que seule, ô ma Lucette, Tu peux guérir si tu le veux. Et Frère Jean l'a dit au prosne: Il n'est qu'un lâdre et qu'un payen, Celuy qui refuse une aumosne, Quand pitoyable est le prochaine. Adonc, ouïs cette requeste Et vers moi vire tes doux yeux... Car tu me peux seule, ô Lucette, Bailler l'aumosne que je veux, Car tu me peux seule, ô Lucette, Bailler l'aumosne que je veux ! Cet ennuy qui tant me chagrine, Ce mal qui tant me fait souffrir, Pris sur ta lèvre purpurine Un baiser le scaurait guérir. Ou de despit je perds la tête, Ou plus qu'Anges je suys heureux. Choisis et m'ouvre, ô ma Lucette, Le Ciel, l'Enfer, ce que tu veux, Choisis et m'ouvre, ô ma Lucette, Le Ciel, l'Enfer, ce que tu veux.
Authorship:
- by Henry Gauthier-Villars (1859 - 1931), after a 16th century poem (?) [author's text not yet checked 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 Gabriel Pierné (1863 - 1937), "À Lucette", published 1912 [ medium voice and piano ], Éd. G. Schirmer [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Henry Grafton Chapman) , "To Lucette"
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "To Lucette", copyright © 2023, (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: 30
Word count: 183
To Lucette
Language: English  after the French (Français)
Sick my heart, and sorely in danger, Reft of end or aim I stray, Afire with a low-burning fever That doth the doctor e’en dismay. Ah, by love’s unerring arrow Has my languid heart been slain, That heart which thou alone, Lucette, Canst, and thou wilt, make well again. That heart which thou alone, Lucette, Canst, and thou wilt, make well again. And Father John has preached full often, He were a heathen knave, indeed, Who would not give alms to his neighbour, Seeing that neighbour sore in need. Ergo: give ear to my petition, Turn thine eyes upon me here! For thou alone, ah, my Lucette, Canst grant the alms that I require. For thou alone, ah, my Lucette, Canst grant the alms that I require. This distress by which I am shaken, These pains I now so long endure, Naught, save sweet kisses to be taken From thy rosy lips, can cure. Or, for despite I’ll lose my reason, Or than Angels happier be; So choose, and give me, my Lucette, Heaven or hell as pleaseth thee. So choose, and give me, my Lucette, Heaven or hell as pleaseth thee.
Authorship:
- by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913), "To Lucette" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Henry Gauthier-Villars (1859 - 1931), after a 16th century poem (?)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-08
Line count: 30
Word count: 192