by
Frédéric van der Elst (flourished c1880-1890)
Villanelle
Language: French (Français)
Available translation(s): ENG GER
J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle
Dans le ciel pur du matin:
Elle allait, à tire-d'aile,
Vers le pays où l'appelle
Le soleil et le jasmin.
J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle!
J'ai longtemps suivi des yeux
Le vol de la voyageuse...
Depuis, mon âme rêveuse
L'accompagne par les cieux.
Ah! ah! au pays mystérieux!
Et j'aurais voulu comme elle
Suivre le même chemin...
J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle, etc.
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):
- ENG English (Luk Laerenbergh) , "Villanelle", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Beate Binnig) , "Villanelle", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Luk Laerenbergh
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 65
Villanelle
Language: English  after the French (Français)
I have seen the swallow fly over
In the clear morning sky:
She was flying by wing
To the land to which she is called
By the sun and the jasmine.
I have seen the swallow fly over!
I have followed for a long time with my eyes
The flight of the traveller...
Since then, my dreaming soul
accompanies her through the skies.
Ah! ah! to the mysterious land!
And I would have wished like her
to follow the same path...
I have seen the swallow fly over, etc.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Luk Laerenbergh, (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:
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 90