Those twin eyes on which, a glutton, I feast

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by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)

Translation © by David Wyatt

Cet œil besson dont goulu je me pais

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG

Cet œil besson dont goulu je me pais,
Qui fait rocher celuy qui s’en approuche, 
Ore d’un ris, or’ d’un regard farouche 
Nourrit mon cœur en querelle et en paix. 

Par vous, bel œil, en souffrant je me tais ;
Mais, aussitost que la douleur me touche, 
Toy, belle, saincte, et angelique bouche, 
De tes douceurs re-vivre tu me fais.

Bouche, pourquoy me viens-tu secourir, 
Quand ce bel œil me force de mourir ? 
Pourquoy veux-tu que vif je redevienne ? 

Las ! bouche, las ! je revis  en langueur, 
Pour plus de soin, afin que le soin vienne, 
Plus longuement se paistre de mon cœur.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• J. Castro

J. Castro sets stanza 1

Text Authorship:

by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585) [author's text checked 1 time 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 Anthoine de Bertrand (1540? - 1581?), "Cet œil besson dont goulu je me pais", 1576, published 1578 [ vocal quartet a cappella ], from Les Amours de Pierre de Ronsard à 4 parties, Livre 1, no. 33 [sung text checked 1 time]

This text (or a part of it) is used in a work

by Jean de Castro (c1540 - c1600), "Mon Dieu, que j'aim' à baiser les beaus yeus"

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (David Wyatt) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: David Wyatt

This text was added to the website: 2014-10-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 101

Those twin eyes on which, a glutton, I...

Language: English after the French (Français)

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Those twin eyes on which, a glutton, I feast,
Which turn to stone whoever approaches them,
Now with a smile, now with a wild glance,
Feed my heart in argument or in peace.

Through you, fair eyes, I remain silent though I suffer;
But as soon as sadness affects me
You, o fair, holy and angelic lips,
With your sweetness you make me live again.

O lips, why do you come to my aid
When those fair eyes are forcing me to die?
Why do you wish me to return to life?

Alas, lips, alas – I live again but listlessly
So that more cares, whenever cares come,
Can feed at more length on my heart.

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Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2014 by David Wyatt, (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 French (Français) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2014-10-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 116