Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Marquise, si mon visage A quelques traits un peu vieux, Souvenez-vous qu'à mon âge Vous ne vaudrez guère mieux. Le temps aux plus belles choses Se plaît à faire un affront, Et saura faner vos roses Comme il a ridé mon front. Le même cours des planètes Règle nos jours et nos nuits, On m'a vu ce que vous êtes ; Vous serez ce que je suis. Cependant j'ai quelques charmes Qui sont assez éclatants Pour n'avoir pas trop d'alarmes De ces ravages du temps. Vous en avez qu'on adore, Mais ceux que vous méprisez Pourraient bien durer encore Quand ceux-là seront usés. Ils pourront sauver la gloire Des yeux qui me semblent doux, Et dans mille ans faire croire Ce qu'il me plaira de vous. Chez cette race nouvelle On j'aurai quelque crédit, Vous ne passerez pour belle Qu'autant que je l'aurai dit. Pensez-y, belle Marquise : Quoiqu'un grison fasse effroi, Il vaut bien qu'on le courtise, Quand il est fait comme moi.
G. Brassens sets lines 1-12
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with St. John Lucas, The Oxford Book Of French Verse xiiith Century—xixth Century, Oxford University Press, American branch, 1907, p.145
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), "Stances à la Marquise", written 1658, appears in Recueil de Sercy [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Go to the general view
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Low [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-05-29
Line count: 32
Word count: 163
Marquise, if you have noticed that my face is not brand-new, only think: when you’re past fifty, the same will be true of you. Father Time delights in degrading every flower that’s young and fair. He will surely fade your roses, just as he has grayed my hair. The laws that govern the planets wrinkle every human brow. I was once as fresh as you are and you will be as I am now. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesText Authorship:
- Singable translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 by Peter Low, (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:
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), "Stances à la Marquise", written 1658, appears in Recueil de Sercy
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-19
Line count: 32
Word count: 74
