English translations of 6 Mélodies, opus 17
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892)
1. Guitare
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "Guitare", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 1 (1856) [ voice and piano ]
Language: French (Français)
Comment, disaient-ils, Avec nos nacelles, Fuir les alguazils ? -- Ramez, disaient-elles. Comment, disaient-ils, Oublier querelles, Misère et périls ? -- Dormez, disaient-elles. Comment, disaient-ils, Enchanter les belles Sans philtres subtils ? -- Aimez, disaient-elles.
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre guitare", appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 23, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
1. How then, asked he
Language: English
"How then," asked he "By boat and tide Alguazils flee?" "Row," she replied. "How then," asked he, "To set aside Strife, misery?" "Sleep," she replied. "How then," asked he, "Love's philtre denied, Win fair beauty?" "Love," she replied.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Faith J. Cormier, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre guitare", appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 23, first published 1838
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 38
Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
2. Puisqu'ici‑bas toute âme
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "Puisqu'ici-bas toute âme", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 2, stanzas 1,8,6,10,7,9
Language: French (Français)
Puisqu'ici-bas toute âme Donne à quelqu'un Sa musique, sa flamme, Ou son parfum ; ... Reçois mes voeux sans nombre, O mes amours ! Reçois la flamme ou l'ombre De tous mes jours ! Je te donne, à cette heure, Penché sur toi, La chose la meilleure Que j'ai en moi ! ... Mon esprit qui sans voile Vogue au hazard, Et qui n'a pour étoile Que ton regard ! Reçois donc ma pensée, Triste d'ailleurs, Qui, comme une rosée, T'arrive en pleurs ! ... Mes transports pleins d'ivresses, Pur de soupçons, Et toutes les caresses De mes chansons !
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, written 1836, appears in Les voix intérieures, no. 11, first published 1837
See other settings of this text.
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
2. As each soul here below
Language: English
As each soul here below Someone has lent, Its music or its glow Or its own scent; [ ... ] My vows uncounted claim My love, always. Receive the shade or flame Of all my days. I give thee, at this hour, Bent over thee, The best that's in my power, The best in me! [ ... ] My spirit which, afar, Drifts on the sea, Its only gliding star The sight of thee. I give my thoughts so true, Though sad they be, Like glistening drops of dew They fall on thee. [ ... ] My wildest transports greet, Suspicions gone, And each caress so sweet Of this my song.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Faith J. Cormier, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, written 1836, appears in Les voix intérieures, no. 11, first published 1837
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 48
Word count: 208
Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
3. L'aube naît, et ta porte est close!
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "L'aube naît, et ta porte est close!", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 3
Language: French (Français)
L'aube naît, et ta porte est close ! Ma belle, pourquoi sommeiller ? À l'heure où s'éveille la rose Ne vas-tu pas te réveiller ? Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi ! Toute frappe à ta porte bénie. L'aurore dit : Je suis le jour ! L'oiseau dit : Je suis l'harmonie ! Et mon cœur dit : Je suis l'amour! Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi ! Je t'adore, ange, et t'aime, femme. Dieu qui pour toi m'a complété A fait mon amour pour ton âme, Et mon regard pour ta beauté ! Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi !
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre chanson", appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 23
See other settings of this text.
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
3.
Language: English
Dawn begins to come, and your door is closed! My beauty, why are you sleeping? At the hour when the rose is awakening, are you not also going to awaken? Oh my charming one, listen here to the lover who sings and also weeps! Everything knocks at your blessed door. Dawn says, “I am the day!” The bird says, “I am harmony!” And my heart says, “I am love!” Oh my charming one, listen here to the lover who sings and also weeps! I adore you, angel, [and] I love you, woman, God, who made me for you, made my love for your soul, and my gaze for your beauty! Oh my charming one, listen here to the lover who sings and also weeps!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre chanson", appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 23
Go to the general single-text view
Translation of titles:
"Autre chanson" = "Another song"
"Le crépuscule" = "Dawn"
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 124
Translation © by John Glenn Paton
4. Dieu qui sourit et qui donne
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "Dieu qui sourit et qui donne", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 4
Language: French (Français)
Dieu qui sourit et qui donne Et qui vient vers qui l'attend, Pourvu que vous soyez bonne, Sera content. Le monde où tout étincelle, Mais où rien n'est enflammé, Pourvu que vous soyez belle, Sera charmé. Mon cœur, dans l'ombre amoureuse Où l'enivrent deux beaux yeux, Pourvu que tu sois heureuse, Sera joyeux.
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 41
See other settings of this text.
Note: several editions of both the poem and some settings appear to have a typo in stanza 3, line 2, word 2: instead of "l'enivrent", they sometimes show "l'enivren" or "l'enivre".
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
4.
Language: English
God, who smiles and who rewards And who comes to those who wait, As long as you remain good, Will remain content. The world, where everything sparkles, But nothing is inflamed, As long as you are beautiful, Will remain charming. My heart, overshadowed by love, Where two beautiful eyes intoxicate it, As long as you are happy, Will remain joyous.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Sergey Rybin, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 41
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2020-09-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 60
Translation © by Sergey Rybin
5. Oh! Quand je dors
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "Oh! Quand je dors", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 5 (1856) [ voice and piano ]
Language: French (Français)
Oh! quand je dors, viens auprès de ma couche,
comme à Pétrarque apparaissait Laura,
Et qu'en passant ton haleine me touche...
Soudain ma bouche
S'entrouvrira!
Sur mon front morne où peut-être s'achève
Un songe noir qui trop longtemps dura,
Que ton regard comme un astre se lève...
Soudain mon rêve
Rayonnera!
Puis sur ma lèvre où voltige une flamme,
Éclair d'amour que Dieu même épura,
Pose un baiser, et d'ange deviens femme...
Soudain mon âme
S'éveillera!
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 27, first published 1840
See other settings of this text.
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
5. Oh! when I sleep
Language: English
Oh, when I sleep, approach my bed, as Laura appeared to Petrach; and as you pass, touch me with your breath... at once my lips will part! On my glum face, where perhaps a dark dream has rested for too long a time, let your gaze lift it like a star... at once my dream will be radiant! Then on my lips, where there flits a brilliance, a flash of love that God has kept pure, place a kiss, and transform from angel into woman... at once my soul will awaken!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 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 Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 27, first published 1840
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 91
Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Chanson à boire
by Edouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), "Chanson à boire", op. 17 (6 Mélodies) no. 6
Language: French (Français)
Amis, vive l'orgie ! J'aime la folle nuit Et la nappe rougie Et les chants et le bruit, Les dames peu sévères , Les cavaliers joyeux, Le vin dans tous les verres, L'amour dans tous les yeux ! La tombe est noire, Les ans sont courts. Il faut, sans croire Aux sots discours, Très-souvent boire, Aimer toujours ! Dans la douce Italie Qu'éclaire un si doux ciel, Tout est joie et folie, Tout est nectar et miel. Ayons donc à nos fêtes Les fleurs et les beautés, La rose sur nos têtes, La femme à nos côtés !
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Lucrèce Borgia, first published 1833
See other settings of this text.
by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
6. Drinking song
Language: English
Hurrah for the orgy, my friend! I love the wild night, Loud songs without end, The cloth red, so red to my sight, Gay-minded lasses, Their swains' joyful sighs, Wine in all glasses, Love in all eyes. Death swallows us up And short are our days. With gloom do not sup, Nor heed follish men's lays. Be oft in your cups And in love always! In Italy sweet, 'Neath a tender sky, Honey and nectar eat With wild, joyful cry. To our feasts shall come now Blooms and beauty to cheer us; A rose for our brow, A fair one beside us.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Faith J. Cormier, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), no title, appears in Lucrèce Borgia, first published 1833
Go to the general single-text view
Translation of title "Chanson à boire" = "Drinking song"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 22
Word count: 102
Translation © by Faith J. Cormier