The Garland of Offerings, six lyric poems after Chinese verse

Translations © by Grant Hicks

by Louis Delune (1876 - 1940)

View original-language texts alone: Le Collier des offrandes, six poèmes lyriques d'après des poésies chinoises

1. La Flûte de jade  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
[ ... ]

J'ai trouvé près de ma fontaine, 
la flûte de jade 
que tu avais perdue, cet été. 
L'herbe haute l'avait soustraite à nos recherches. 

Mais l'herbe est morte, 
et la flûte brillait au soleil, ce soir. 
J'ai pensé à notre amour, 
qui est resté si longtemps 
enseveli sous nos scrupules.

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by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
1.
Language: English 
 ... 

Next to my fountain I found 
the jade flute 
that you'd lost this summer. 
The high grass had hidden it from our searching. 

But the grass is dead, 
and this morning the flute was gleaming in the sun. 
I thought of our love, 
which has remained so long
buried beneath our misgivings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-3 of the original text.

Translations of titles:
"Je me promenais" = "I was walking"
"La flûte de jade" = "The Jade Flute"


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-13
Line count: 14
Word count: 72

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. Depuis qu'elle est partie  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Ne m'apportez plus de fleurs, 
mais de branches de cyprès 
où je plongerais mon visage ! 
Quand le soleil a disparu 
derrière les montagnes, 
je mets ma robe bleu 
aux manches légères, 
et je vais dormir
parmi les bambous qu'elle aimait.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 3.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
2. Since she went away...
Language: English 
Bring me no more flowers, 
but cypress branches 
for me to bury my face in! 
When the sun has disappeared 
behind the mountains, 
I put on my blue robe
with light sleeves 
and I go and sleep 
among the bamboo that she loved.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-12
Line count: 9
Word count: 43

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Notre bateau glisse  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Notre bateau glisse sur le fleuve calme.
Au delà du verger qui borde la rive,
je regarde les montagnes bleues et les nuages blancs.

Mon amie sommeille, la main dans l'eau.
Un papillon s'est posé sur son épaule,
a battu des ailes puis s'est envolé.

Je l'ai suivi des yeux, longtemps.
Il se dirigeait vers les montagnes de Tchang-nân.

Etait-ce un papillon, ou le rêve que venait de faire mon amie ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1922, pages 29-30.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
3. Our boat glides ..
Language: English 
Our boat glides on the placid river. 
Beyond the orchard that runs along the bank, 
I gaze at the blue mountains and the white clouds. 

My love dozes, her hand in the water.
A butterfly has landed on her shoulder,
flapped its wings then flown off.

I followed it with my eyes for a long time.
It was headed towards the Tchang-nân mountains.

Was it a butterfly, or the dream my love had just dreamed?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-15
Line count: 9
Word count: 75

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. Nocturne  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Nonchalante, son luth à la main,
elle roulait le rideau de perles,
afin que l'odeur du printemps inondât sa chambre,
mais elle a vu la lune,
et c'est le chagrin qui est entré.
 
Le visage dans son bras replié,
elle évoque un jardin bleui de lune,
où elle entendit, jadis, des paroles d'amour.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, pages 82-83.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
4. Nocturne
Language: English 
Casually, with her lute in her hand,
she rolled up the curtain of pearls
to let the odor of springtime fill her room,
but she saw the moon,
and it was sorrow that entered.

With her face in the crook of her arm,
she recalls a garden blue in the moonlight
where once she heard words of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translations of titles:
"Nocturne" = "Nocturne"
"Nocturne " = "Nocturne"


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 58

Translation © by Grant Hicks
5. Mon amie  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
A la porte Occidentale de la ville, 
rient des jeunes filles 
onduleuses et légères 
comme de nuages de printemps. 
Mais je dédaigne leur charme,
puisque, dans sa robe blanche, 
et sous son voile épais,
mon amie est plus gracieuse. 

A la porte Orientale de la ville, 
rêvent des jeunes filles 
éclatantes et jolies 
comme des fleurs de printemps. 
Mais je dédaigne leurs parfums, 
puisque, dans sa robe blanche 
et sous son voile épais, 
mon amie est plus odorante !

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, pages 2-3.

Note: the original Chinese poem is attributed to Tsao Chang Ling, an 18th century author, but a similar translation by Thalasso attributes its original Chinese poem to an anonymous ancient poet included in the Chi-King.

by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
5. My Love
Language: English 
At the Western gate of the city,
maidens laugh,
as light and billowy
as Spring clouds.
But I scorn their charms,
for, in her white robe
and behind her thick veil,
my love is more graceful.

At the Eastern gate of the city,
maidens dream,
as lovely and radiant
as Spring flowers.
But I scorn their scents,
for, in her white robe
and behind her thick veil,
my love is more fragrant!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 72

Translation © by Grant Hicks

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

6. Ngo gay ngy 
Comme la lune dans le ciel bleu,
je suis seule dans ma chambre.
J'ai éteint la lampe, je pleure.
Je pleure parce que vous êtes loin de moi
et que vous ne saurez jamais
combien je vous aime.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 88.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
C'est un arbuste dépourvu de feuilles et de fleurs.
Ni pierre ni jade. Qui nous l'a envoyé ?
Mais qui t'a donné ce cœur insensible, my bien-aimée ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 91.


Researcher for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] 
Une chanson, là-bas... C'est un mendiant.
Puisqu’il chante, ce vieillard  qui n’a jamais rien possédé,
pourquoi gémis-tu, toi qui as de si beaux souvenirs ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 82.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , François Le Roux [Guest Editor] 
Nuit tiède, clair de lune, parfum des pruniers, 
donnez à ma bien-aimée un rêve délicieux ! 
Faites qu'elle soit impatiente de me revoir, et, 
qu'à l'aurore, elle vienne frapper à ma porte !

Parfum des pruniers, clair de lune, nuit tiède,
je saurai, par ses baisers, si vous m’avez entendu...

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade ; poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1922, page 129.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor] 
Tu as laissé tomber dans la poussière
la tulipe rouge que je t'avais donnée.
Je l'ai ramassée.
Elle était devenue blanche.
En ce bref instant, il avait neigé sur notre amour.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 23.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] 
Ma bien-aimée sait que je te contemple
quand tes rayons la caressent, ô lune, 
et notre séparation est moins cruelle.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade, Paris: H. Piazza, 1933, page 108.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
6. Coral
Like the moon in the blue sky, 
I am alone in my room. 
I've put out the lamp; I am crying. 
I am crying because you are far away
and because you will never know 
how much I love you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translations of titles:
"Combien je vous aime" = "How Much I Love You"
"Ngo Gay Ngy" = "Ngo Gay Ngy"



It is a bush devoid of leaves or flowers. 
Neither stone nor jade. Who sent it to us? 
But who gave you your insensitive heart, my beloved?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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A song, over there... It's a beggar.
Since he sings, this old man who has never possessed anything,
why do you moan, you who have such beautiful memories?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Warm night, light of the moon, scent of the plum trees, 
give my beloved a delightful dream! 
Make her eager to see me again, so that, 
at dawn, she comes to knock at my door! 

Scent of the plum trees, light of the moon, warm night, 
I will know by her kisses whether you have heard me...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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You dropped in the dust
the red tulip I'd given you. 
I picked it back up. 
It had become white. 
In that brief instant, it had snowed on our love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translations of titles:
"Dernière promenade" = "Last Stroll"
"La dernière promenade" = "The Last Stroll"



My beloved knows that I am looking at you
while your rays caress her, O moon, 
and our separation is less cruel.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translation © by Grant Hicks