English translations of Quatre Mélodies, opus 23
by Swan Hennessy (1866 - 1929)
1. Lydia [sung text not yet checked]
by Swan Hennessy (1866 - 1929), "Lydia", op. 23 (1906), published 1908 [ voice and piano ], from Quatre mélodies, no. 1, Paris : Éd. J. Hamelle
Language: French (Français)
Lydia sur tes roses joues Et sur ton col frais et [plus blanc, Que le lait, coule étincelant]1 L'or fluide que tu dénoues ; Le jour qui luit est le meilleur, Oublions l'éternelle tombe. Laisse tes baisers de colombe Chanter sur [tes lèvres]2 en fleur. Un lys caché répand sans cesse Une odeur divine en ton sein ; Les délices comme un essaim Sortent de toi, jeune déesse. Je t'aime et meurs, ô mes amours. Mon âme en baisers m'est ravie ! Ô Lydia, rends-moi la vie, Que je puisse mourir toujours !
Text Authorship:
- by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "Lydia", written 1852, appears in Poèmes antiques, in Études latines, no. 17, first published 1852
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View text without footnotes1 Fauré: "si blanc/ Roule étincelant"
2 Fauré: "ta lèvre"
by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894)
1. Lydia
Language: English
Lydia, on your rosy cheeks, And on your neck, so fresh and white, Flow sparklingly The fluid golden tresses which you loosen. This shining day is the best of all; Let us forget the eternal grave, Let your kisses, your kisses of a dove, Sing on your blossoming lips. A hidden lily spreads unceasingly A divine fragrance on your breast; Numberless delights Emanate from you, young goddess, I love you and die, oh my love; Kisses have carried away my soul! Oh Lydia, give me back life, That I may die, forever die!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Rowcliffe Browne, (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 Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "Lydia", written 1852, appears in Poèmes antiques, in Études latines, no. 17, first published 1852
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94
Translation © by Rowcliffe Browne