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.
Je dirai la rose aux plis gracieux. La rose est le souffle embaumé des Dieux, Le plus cher souci des Muses divines ! Je dirai ta gloire, ô charme des yeux, Ô fleur de Kypris, reine des collines ! Tu t'épanouis entre les beaux doigts De l'Aube écartant les ombres moroses ; L'air bleu devient rose, et roses les bois ; La bouche et le sein des vierges sont roses ! Heureuse la vierge aux bras arrondis Qui dans les halliers humides te cueille ! Heureux le front jeune où tu resplendis ! Heureuse la coupe où nage ta feuille ! Ruisselante encor du flot paternel, Quand de la mer bleue Aphrodite éclose Étincela nue aux clartés du ciel, La Terre jalouse enfanta la rose ; Et l'Olympe entier, d'amour transporté, Salua la fleur avec la Beauté !
Text Authorship:
- by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "La Rose", written 1855?, appears in Poèmes antiques, in Odes anacréontiques, no. 9, Paris, Éd. Dentu, first published 1855 [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 Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924), "La Rose", subtitle: "Ode anacréontique", op. 51 no. 4 (1890), published 1890, orchestrated 1924 by Henri-Paul Büsser [ voice and piano ], Hamelle [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La rosa", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The Rose", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfredo García) , "La rosa", copyright © 2004, (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: 19
Word count: 128
I'll tell you of the rose with graceful pleats. The rose is the fragrant breath of the gods, The dearest care of the divine Muses! I'll tell about your glory, oh charm of the eyes, Oh flower of Cyprus, queen of the downs! You thrive among the beautiful fingers Of Dawn, dismissing morose shadows; The clear blue air turns rose-colored, as do the woods; The mouth and the womb of virgins are roses! Happy is the virgin with arms rounded Who steps into wet bushes to pick you! Happy is the young brow where you gleam! Happy is the goblet swimming with your petals! When, still streaming from the paternal waters, From the blue sea, Aphrodite hatched Sparkling and nude against the clear sky, Jealous earth bore the rose; And all of Olympus, transported by love, Saluted the beautiful flower!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Laura Stanfield Prichard, (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 Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "La Rose", written 1855?, appears in Poèmes antiques, in Odes anacréontiques, no. 9, Paris, Éd. Dentu, first published 1855
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-03
Line count: 19
Word count: 140