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L'étoile du berger tremblote Dans l'eau plus noire, et le pilote Cherche un briquet dans sa culotte. C'est l'instant, Messieurs, ou jamais, D'être audacieux, et je mets Mes deux mains partout désormais ! Le chevalier Atys, qui gratte Sa guitare, à Chloris l'ingrate Lance une œillade scélérate. L'abbé confesse bas Eglé, Et ce vicomte déréglé Des champs donne à son cœur la clé. Cependant la lune se lève Et l'esquif en sa course brève File gaîment sur l'eau qui rêve.
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Fêtes galantes, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1869, pages 29-30.
Note: All ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En Bateau", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 13, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Gérard Condé (b. 1947), "En Bateau", 1973, published 2001 [ reciter and piano ], from Fêtes galantes, récitation accompagnée au piano, no. 8, Éd. Henry Lemoine [sung text not yet checked]
- by Raoul Laparra (1876 - 1943), "En Bateau", published 1927 [ voice and piano ], from Pastels, suite de mélodies sur des Fétes galantes , no. 7, Paris, Gallet [sung text not yet checked]
- by Fernand Ochsé (1879 - 1944), "En Bateau", 1908, published 1913 [ voice and piano ], from Le Parc, no. 10, Berlin, Fürstner [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "On Board", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-04
Line count: 15
Word count: 79
The [reflection of the] shepherd’s star trembles On the darkening water, and the sailor searches for his lighter in his pockets. It’s now, Gentlemen, or never, To show bravery, and I offer Both my hands to take you wherever you want! The noble Atys, who plucks His guitar, towards ungrateful Chloris Winks naughtily. The abbot hears the confession of lowly Eglé, And the nobleman, in confusion, Gives away the key to his heart. Meanwhile the moon rises And the skiff sets its course, Sailing gaily over the dreaming sea.
Translator's Notes:
Stanza 1, Line 1. "Capella", the brightest star in the northern constellation of Auriga, is the third brightest star in the night sky in the northern hemisphere, prominent in winter.
Stanza 2, Line 3. The pilot is offering to sail in any direction, turning the tiller and raising the sails as needed (although a skiff is a very small boat, so he may be talking to himself).
Stanza 3, Line 1. "Atys", the name of an ancient Phrygian shepherd who was supposed to remain chaste
Stanza 3, Line 2. "Chloris", the name of a Greek nymph.
Stanza 4, Line 1. "Eglé", the name of the goddess of good health and the glow of health
Stanza 4, Line 2. "The nobleman" refers to the person being compared to Atys.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 by Laura 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.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En Bateau", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 13, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-01
Line count: 15
Word count: 89