English translations of Trois mélodies, opus 15

by René-Emmanuel Baton (1879 - 1940), as Rhené-Baton

1. Ultima verba  [sung text not yet checked]
by René-Emmanuel Baton (1879 - 1940), as Rhené-Baton, "Ultima verba", op. 15 (Trois mélodies) no. 3 (1901), published 1912 [ high voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. Durand & Cie.
Language: French (Français) 
Oh ! quand la mort, que rien ne saurait apaiser,
Nous prendra tous les deux dans un dernier baiser
Et jettera sur nous le manteau de ses ailes,
Puissions-nous réposer sous deux pierres jumelles !
Puissent les fleurs de rose aux parfums embaumés
Sortir de nos deux corps qui se sont tant aimés,
Et nos âmes fleurir ensemble, et, sur nos tombes
Se [becqueter]1 longtemps d'amoureuses colombes !

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1 Debussy: "regarder"

by Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891)
1.
Language: English 
Oh, when death, which nothing can appease,
seizes us both in a final kiss
and throws over us the mantle of his wings,
may we then rest under two twin stones!
May roses with their fragrant perfumes
grow from our bodies which have loved each other so much,
may our souls blossom together, and on our tombs
may amorous doves eternally [nibble]1 at each other.

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  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2022 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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Translated titles
"Dernier Vœu" = "Last Wish"
"Oh ! quand la mort" = "Oh ! when Death"
"Souhait" = "Wish"
"Ultima verba" ="Last Word"

1 Debussy: "gaze"


This text was added to the website: 2022-09-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 65

Translation © by Peter Low