English translations of Trois poèmes, opus 2
by Louis Durey (1888 - 1979)
L'échelonnement des haies Moutonne à l'infini, mer Claire dans le brouillard clair, Qui [sent]1 bon les jeunes baies. Des arbres et des moulins Sont légers sur le vert tendre, Où vient s'ébattre et s'étendre L'agilité des poulains. Dans ce vague d'un Dimanche, Voici se jouer aussi De grandes brebis, Aussi douces que leur laine blanche. Tout à l'heure déferlait L'onde roulée en volutes, De cloches comme des flûtes Dans le ciel comme du lait.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1875?, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 13, first published 1880
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Philippart-Gonzalez: "a envoyé"
Row upon row of hedges billow into the distance, like a pale sea in the clear mist which smells of good young bayberries. Trees and windmills pose lightly on the delicate green of the grass where the nimble colts are frisking and stretching out. Here in this Sunday dreaminess are sheep frolicking too - large ewes as gentle as their soft white wool. A moment ago, like a scroll unfurling, a wave came rolling and breaking, a wave of flute-like bells in the milk-white sky.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 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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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1875?, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 13, first published 1880
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 84
Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit, Si bleu, si calme ! Un arbre, par-dessus le toit, Berce sa palme. La cloche, dans le ciel qu'on voit, Doucement tinte. Un oiseau sur l'arbre qu'on voit Chante sa plainte. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, la vie est là Simple et tranquille. Cette paisible rumeur-là Vient de la ville. Qu'as-tu fait, ô toi que voilà Pleurant sans cesse, Dis, qu'as-tu fait, toi que voilà, De ta jeunesse ?
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 6, Paris, Société générale de Librairie Catholique, first published 1881
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Over the roof, the sky is So blue, so calm! Above the roof, a tree Waves its foliage. In the sky one can see the bell Softly ringing. On the tree one can see a bird Singing its lament. My God, my God, life is there, Simple and tranquil. This peaceful rumor there Comes from the town. What have you done, o you there, Weeping without end, Tell me, what have you done, you there, With your youth?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 6, Paris, Société générale de Librairie Catholique, first published 1881
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 78
La mer est plus belle Que les cathédrales, Nourrice fidèle, Berceuse de râles, La mer qui prie La Vierge Marie ! Elle a tous les dons Terribles et doux. J'entends ses pardons Gronder ses courroux. Cette immensité N'a rien d'entêté. O! si patiente, Même quand méchante ! Un souffle ami hante La vague, et nous chante : « Vous sans espérance, Mourez sans souffrance ! » Et puis sous les cieux Qui s'y rient plus clairs, Elle a des airs bleus. Roses, gris et verts... Plus belle que tous, Meilleure que nous !
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 15, Paris, Société générale de Librairie catholique, Éd. Victor Pamé, first published 1881
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The sea is more lovely Than the cathedrals, A faithful nurse, A lullaby of a death-rattle, The sea over which The Virgin Mary prays! It has all the qualities, Terrible and sweet. I hear its pardons, Grumbling its ire. This immensity Has no obstinacy. Oh! So patient, Even when dangerous! A friendly breath haunts The wave, and sings to us: "You, without hope, Perish without suffering!" And then, beneath the skies That mock it by being brighter, It has the appearance of blue, Pink, grey, and green... More lovely than everything, Better than we!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2018 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 15, Paris, Société générale de Librairie catholique, Éd. Victor Pamé, first published 1881
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-04-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 94