Orchards

Song Cycle by Louis Durey (1888 - 1979)

View original-language texts alone: Vergers

1. La biche
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Ô la biche : quel bel intérieur
d'anciennes forêts dans tes yeux abonde ; 
combien de confiance ronde 
mêlée à combien de peur.

Tout cela, porté par la vive 
gracilité de tes bonds. 
Mais jamais rien n'arrive 
à cette impossessive 
ignorance de ton front.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. The doe
Language: English 
Oh, a doe: what beautiful interiors
of ancient forests abound in your eyes; 
drunk with so much confidence 
mixed with so much fear.

All this, supported by the strong 
slenderness of your leaps. 
But nothing ever happens 
to that docile 
ignorance of your brow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 9
Word count: 44

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Arrêtons‑nous
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Arrêtons-nous un peu, causons. 
C'est encore moi, ce soir, qui m'arrête, 
c'est encore vous qui m'écoutez. 

Un peu plus tard d'autres joueront 
aux voisins de la route
sous ces beaux arbres que l'on se prête.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. Let’s pause
Language: English 
Let’s pause a bit, [and] talk. 
It’s me again, tonight, who wants to pause, 
it’s still you who listens. 

A bit later others will play
like neighbors [in]1 the street
under those beautiful trees where everything is ready.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Durey: "near"


This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 6
Word count: 39

Translation © by Laura Prichard
3. Eau qui se presse
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Eau qui se presse, qui court ... eau oublieuse 
que la distraite terre boit, 
hésite un petit instant dans ma main creuse, 
    souvient-toi! 

Clair et rapide amour, indifférence, 
presque absence qui court, 
entre ton trop d'arrivée et ton trop de partance 
    tremble un peu de séjour.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. Water that presses on
Language: English 
Water that presses on, that runs… forgetful water
drunk by the distracted earth, 
hesitate a moment in my hollow hand, 
    remember me! 
Unclouded and speedy love, apathy, 
[a feeling] approaching absence which flows
in between your too frequent arrivals and departures
    float here awhile.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Laura Prichard
4. Comme un verre de Venise
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Comme un verre de Venise 
sait en naissant ce gris 
et la clarté indécise 
dont il sera épris, 

ainsi tes tendres mains 
avaient rêvé d'avance 
d'être la lente balance 
de nos moments trop pleins.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Like Venetian glass
Language: English 
In the same way Venetian glass
knows it is born from this gray 
and inconclusive clarity
which will be loved, 

thus your tender hands
have dreamt in advance 
of being like the slow scales
of our too full movements.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Laura Prichard
5. Un cygne
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Un cygne avance sur l'eau 
tout entouré de lui-même, 
comme un glissant tableau;
ainsi à certains instants
un être que l'on aime 
est tout un espace mouvant.

Il se rapproche, doublé, 
comme ce cygne qui nage,
sur notre âme troublée...
qui à cet être ajoute 
la tremblante image
de bonheur et de doute.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
5. A swan
Language: English 
A swan advances over the water 
completely surrounded by [reflections] of itself, 
like a sliding tableau;
thus at certain instants
a being which one loves 
is in motion through all space.

He approaches, reflected twofold, 
like a swan who is swimming,
[approaching] our troubled soul…
which to this being is added
the wavering image
of happiness and doubt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 58

Translation © by Laura Prichard
6. La passante d'été
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Vois-tu venir sur le chemin la lente, l'heureuse, 
celle que l'on envie, la promeneuse? 
Au tournant de la route il faudrait qu'elle soit 
saluée par de beaux messieurs d'autrefois. 

Sous son ombrelle, avec une grâce passive, 
elle exploite la tendre alternative: 
s'effaçant un instant à la trop brusque lumière, 
elle ramène l'ombre dont elle s'éclaire.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
6. The passing girl in summer
Language: English 
Do you see the girl coming slowly on the path, the happy girl, 
she whom you envy, promenading? 
At the turn in the road it ought to happen that
she be saluted by the handsome gentlemen of days gone by. 

Beneath her parasol, with passive gracefulness, 
she exploits the tender alternative: 
hiding herself for an instant from the harsh light, 
she makes the shade retreat by lighting up.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 68

Translation © by Laura Prichard
7. La fontaine
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Je ne veux qu'une seule leçon, c'est la tienne, 
fontaine, qui en toi-même retombes _ 
celles de tes eaux risquées auxquelles incombe
ce céleste retour vers la vie terrienne. 

Autant que ton multiple murmure 
rien ne saurait me servir d'exemple; 
toi, ô colonne légère du temple 
qui se détruit par sa propre nature. 

Dans ta chute, combien se module 
chaque jet d'eau qui termine sa danse. 
Je me sens l'élève, l'émule 
de ton innombrable nuance! 

Mais ce qui plus que ton chant vers toi me décide 
c'est cet instant de silence en délire 
lorsqu'à la nuit, à travers ton élan liquide 
passe ton propre retour qu'un souffle retire.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
7. The fountain
Language: English 
I only want to learn one lesson, it’s yours
fountain, who fall back onto yourself _ 
[with] those hazardous waters which were responsible
for your celestial return to earthly life. 

Nothing so much as your multiple murmurings 
could serve as an example for me; 
you, lighted column of the temple, 
that destroys itself by its own nature. 

In your fall, how do you modulate 
each jet so that it ends in a dance?
I feel like [your] student, the emulator
of your countless nuances! 

But, more than your song, what draws me to you
is that instant of silence in delirium 
during the night, [when] passing through your own liquid 
you return, [as if] drawn back by a breath.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 119

Translation © by Laura Prichard