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Le Seigneur a dit à son enfant: Va, par le clair jardin innocent Des anges, où brillent les pommes Et les roses. Il est à toi. C'est ton royaume. Mais ne cueille des choses Que la fleur ; Laisse le fruit aux branches, N'approfondis pas le bonheur. Ne cherche pas à connaître Le secret de la terre Et l'énigme des êtres. N'écoute pas la voix qui t'attire Au fond de l'ombre, la voix qui tente, La voix du serpent, ou la voix des sirènes, Ou celle des colombes ardentes Aux bosquets sombres de l'Amour. Reste ignorante, Ne pense pas ; chante. Tout science est vaine, N'aime que la beauté. Et qu'elle soit pour toi toute la vérité.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Charles Van Lerberghe, La Chanson d’Ève, Paris, Société du Mercure de France, 1904 (2e éd.), pages 29-30.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles van Lerberghe (1861 - 1907), no title, appears in La Chanson d'Ève, in 1. Premières paroles, no. 7, Paris, Éd. du Mercure de France, first published 1904 [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 Mathieu Crickboom (1871 - 1947), "Le Seigneur a dit", op. 12 (Dix Mélodies pour chant et piano) no. 8 (1908) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alphons Diepenbrock (1862 - 1921), "Berceuse", 1912, published 1923 [ medium voice, cello, and piano ], Amsterdam, Éd. Alsbach & Co [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , copyright © 2021, (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: 21
Word count: 115
The Lord God said to his child: Walk in the bright and innocent garden of the angels, where apples and roses are gleaming. It is yours. Your kingdom. But best not wake anything except the flowers; leave the fruit on the branches, do not analyse happiness. Do not try to know the secret of the earth and the enigma of beings. Do not listen to the enticing voice from deep in the shadow, the one that tempts, the serpent's voice, or the sirens', or the voice of the ardent doves in the dark groves of Eros. Remain unknowing. Do not think - sing! All knowledge is vain, love only beauty. And may she be for you all truth.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles
"Berceuse" = "Lullaby"
"Le Seigneur a dit" = "The Lord said"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2021 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.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles van Lerberghe (1861 - 1907), no title, appears in La Chanson d'Ève, in 1. Premières paroles, no. 7, Paris, Éd. du Mercure de France, first published 1904
This text was added to the website: 2021-11-24
Line count: 21
Word count: 117