by
Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
Vous êtes le bouquet de votre bouquet même
Language: French (Français)
Vous estes le bouquet de vostre bouquet mesme,
Et la fleur de sa fleur, sa grace & sa verdeur.
De vostre douce haleine il a pris son odeur :
Il est, comme je suis, de vostre amour tout blême.
Ma Dame, voyez donc, puis qu'un bouquet vous aime,
Indigne de juger que peut vostre valeur,
Combien doy-je sentir en l'ame de douleur,
Qui sers par jugement votre excellence extrême ?
Mais ainsi qu'un bouquet se flestrit en un jour,
J'ay peur qu'un mesme jour flestrisse vostre amour,
Toute amitié de femme est soudain effacee.
Advienne le destin comme il pourra venir,
Il ne peut de voz yeux m'oster le souvenir :
Il faudroit m'arracher le cœur & la pensee.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Caby (1905 - 1992), "Vous êtes le bouquet de votre bouquet même", 1956 [vocal duet for tenor and bass, flute, bassoon], note: the flute and bassoon only join in at the end [ sung text not verified ]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , title 1: "The bouquet", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 116
The bouquet
Language: English after the French (Français)
You are the scent of your own bouquet,
The flower of its flowers, its grace and vitality.
From your sweet breath it has taken its perfume;
It is, as I am, pale from love of you.
My Lady, consider: if a bouquet can love you,
Though it is unworthy to judge what your merit can achieve,
How long must I feel sadness in my soul,
I who use my judgement and serve your extreme excellence ?
But just as a bouquet withers in a day
I am afraid that the same single day may wither your love,
For a woman's love is quickly erased.
Let my fate come out as it may,
It cannot take from me the memory of your eyes:
It would have to tear out my heart and thoughts.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 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:
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 131
