To Nellie
Language: English
I ask thee for a kiss no more.
As once I ask (and not in vain);
For now thy spirit I adore,
To wed thy spirit I am fain.
Thy face is fair, thine eyes are fond
Thy form was cast in beauty's mould;
But far beneath, or far beyond,
Dwells she, whom I would fain enfold:
She tends a shrine of vestal fire,
A fount of virgin fancy sips;
Immured from intimate desire,
She hides her heart and locks her lips.
Mock me no more, but let us wed!
Come forth, come forth, secluded bride!
No other way, when we are dead,
Shall we rejoice that we have died.
Text 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, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Jean-Pierre Granger) , title 1: "Pour Nellie", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Jean-Pierre Granger
This text was added to the website: 2009-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 110
Pour Nellie
Language: French (Français) after the English
Je ne te demanderai plus un baiser,
Comme je l'ai autrefois demandé (et non en vain) ;
Car l'âme que j'adore maintenant,
À cette âme je veux m'unir volontiers.
Ton visage est doux, tes yeux tendres,
Ton corps fut coulé dans le moule de la beauté ;
Mais bien en-dessous, ou bien au-delà,
Habite celle que je veux tant étreindre.
Vestale, elle entretient le feu du sanctuaire,
Une fontaine aux eaux chastes et précieuses ;
Isolée des désirs intimes,
Elle voile son amour et garde sa bouche close.
Ne me raille plus, mais épouse-moi !
Approche-toi, approche-toi, fiancée recluse !
D'aucune autre façon, lorsque nous seront mort,
Pourrons-nous nous réjouir d'être mort.
The translator has released this translation into the public domain.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2009-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 107
