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Summer nights
Translations © by Emily Ezust
Song Cycle by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)
View original-language texts alone: Les Nuits d'Été
Quand viendra la saison nouvelle, Quand auront disparu les froids, Tous les deux, nous irons, ma belle, Pour cueillir le muguet au bois; Sous nos pieds égrénant les perles Que l'on voit, au matin trembler, Nous irons écouter les merles Siffler. Le printemps est venu, ma belle; C'est le mois des amants béni; Et l'oiseau, satinant son aile, Dit [des]1 vers au rebord du nid. [Oh !]2 viens donc sur [le]3 banc de mousse Pour parler de nos beaux amours, Et dis-moi de ta voix si douce: «Toujours !» Loin, bien loin égarant nos courses, Faisons fuir le lapin caché, Et le daim au miroir des sources Admirant son grand bois penché ; Puis chez nous tout [joyeux]4, tout aises, En paniers, enlaçant nos doigts, Revenons rapportant des fraises Des bois.
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Villanelle rythmique", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Samuel Byrne) , "Villanelle"
- ENG English [singable] (Shula Keller) , "Villanelle", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2015
- FRI Frisian (Geart van der Meer) , "Villanelle", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Nele Gramß) , "Villanelle", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Contadinella", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 361.
1 Berlioz: "ses"2 Viardot: "Ah ! "
3 Berlioz, Lavigne, Viardot: "ce"
4 Berlioz, Lavigne: "heureux"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
When the new season arrives, When the cold is gone, Together we will go, my lovely, To gather lilies of the valley in the woods; Strewing beneath our feet the pearls We see trembling each morning, We shall go to listen to the blackbirds Singing! Spring has come, my lovely; This is the month [most] blessed by lovers; And the bird, preening its wings until they are like satin, Recites [some]1 lines at the edge of its nest. Oh! Come then onto [the]2 mossy bank To speak of our beautiful loves, And tell me in your voice so soft: Forever! Far, so far away, we stray from our path, Setting to flight the hiding rabbit And the buck admiring in the mirror of the water Its great lowered antlers; Then homeward we shall go, [joyous]3 and at ease, Entwining our fingers together like baskets; And we shall return home carrying Wild strawberries!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Villanelle rythmique", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translation of title "Villanelle" = "Villanelle" (a poetic form)
1 Berlioz: "its"
2 Berlioz, Lavigne: "this"
3 Berlioz, Lavigne: "content"
This text was added to the website: 2015-01-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 152
Soulêve ta paupière close Qu'effleure un songe virginal ; Je suis le spectre d'une rose Que tu portais hier au bal. Tu me pris encore emperlée Des pleurs d'argent de l'arrosoir, Et, parmi la fête étoilée, Tu me promenas tout le soir. Ô toi qui de ma mort fus cause, Sans que tu puisses le chasser, [Toute la nuit]1 mon spectre rose À ton chevet viendra danser : Mais ne crains rien, je ne réclame Ni messe ni De Profundis ; Ce léger parfum est mon âme, Et j'arrive du du paradis. Mon destin fut digne d'envie ; [Pour avoir un trépas]2 si beau, Plus d'un aurait donné sa vie, [Car j'ai ta gorge pour]3 tombeau, Et sur l'albâtre où je repose Un poète, avec un baiser, Écrivit : Ci-gît une rose Que tous les rois vont jalouser.
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Le spectre de la rose", written 1837, appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
- FRI Frisian [singable] (Geart van der Meer) , "De siele fan de roas", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Lo spettro della rosa", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 225.
1 Berlioz: "Toutes les nuits"2 Berlioz: "Et pour avoir un sort"
3 Berlioz: "Car sur ton sein j'ai mon"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
Open your closed eyelid Which is gently brushed by a virginal dream! I am the ghost of the rose That you wore last night at the ball. You took me when I was still sprinkled with pearls Of silvery tears from the watering-can, And, among the sparkling festivities, You carried me the entire night. O you, who caused my death: Without the power to chase it away, You will be visited every night by my ghost, Which will dance at your bedside. But fear nothing; I demand Neither Mass nor De Profundis; This mild perfume is my soul, And I've come from Paradise. My destiny is worthy of envy; And to have a fate so fine, More than one would give his life For on your breast I have my tomb, And on the alabaster where I rest, A poet with a kiss Wrote: "Here lies a rose, Of which all kings may be jealous."
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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Le spectre de la rose", written 1837, appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
Note: this is a translation of Berlioz's version.Translation of title "Le spectre de la rose" = "The ghost of the rose"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 155
Ma belle amie est morte: Je pleurerai toujours; [Sous]1 la tombe elle emporte Mon âme et mes amours. Dans le ciel, sans m'attendre, Elle s'en retourna; L'ange qui l'emmena Ne voulut pas me prendre. Que mon sort est amer! Ah! sans amour, s'en aller sur la mer! La blanche créature Est couchée au cercueil. Comme dans la nature Tout me paraît en deuil! La colombe oubliée Pleure et songe à l'absent; Mon âme pleure et sent Qu'elle est dépareillée. Que mon sort est amer! Ah! sans amour, s'en aller sur la mer! Sur moi la [nuit]2 immense [S'étend]3 comme un linceul; Je chante ma romance Que le ciel entend seul. Ah! comme elle était belle, [Et comme]4 je l'aimais! Je n'aimerai jamais Une femme autant qu'elle. Que mon sort est amer! Ah! sans amour, s'en aller sur la mer!
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", subtitle: "La chanson du pêcheur", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La mia bella amica è morta", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 227.
1 Viardot: "Dans"2 Viardot: "mer"
3 Fauré: "Plane"
4 Fauré: "Et combien"; Viardot: "Comme"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Bertram Kottmann , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor] , Anne Rodier
My beautiful love is dead, I shall weep always; Into the tomb, she has taken My soul and my love. Without waiting for me, She has returned to heaven. The angel which took her there Did not want to take me. How bitter is my fate! Ah! without love, to go to sea! The white creature Is lying in the coffin; How all in Nature Seems bereaved to me! The forgotten dove Weeps and dreams of the one who is absent; My soul cries and feels That it has been abandoned. How bitter is my fate, Ah! without love, to go to sea! Above me the immense night Spreads itself like a shroud; I sing my romanza That heaven alone hears. Ah! how beautiful she was, And how I loved her! I will never love Another woman as much as I loved her; How bitter is my fate! ah! without love, to go to sea!
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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", subtitle: "La chanson du pêcheur", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
Translation of title "My beautiful love is dead" = "My beautiful love is dead"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 155
Reviens, reviens, ma bien-aimée !
Comme une fleur loin du soleil,
La fleur de ma vie est fermée,
Loin de ton sourire vermeil.
Entre nos cœurs [tant de]1 distance ;
[Tant]2 d'espace entre nos baisers.
Ô sort amer ! ô dure absence !
Ô grands désirs inapaisés !
D'ici là-bas que de campagnes,
Que de villes et de hameaux,
Que de vallons et de montagnes,
À lasser le pied des chevaux !
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Absence", written 1838, appears in La Comédie de la Mort, Paris, Éd. Desessart, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Samuel Byrne) , "Absence"
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2015
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Enrico Magnani) , "Assenza", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 283.
1 Berlioz: "quelle"2 David: "Que"
3 Bizet, Lavigne: "nos"
4 Berlioz, Pedrell: "S'abbatre"
5 David: "Ah !"
6 Lavigne:
« Ô ma colombe ! à tire d'aile, Retourne au nid de nos amours. Tu sais bien qu'il compte les jours ! »
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
Return, return, my beloved!
Like a flower far from the sun,
The flower of my life is shut,
Far from your rosy smile!
Between our hearts such distance!
Such space between our kisses!
O bitter destiny! O harsh absence!
O great, unappeasable desires!
Between here and there what lands,
What cities and hamlets,
What valleys and montains,
To exhaust the feet of horses!
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Absence", written 1838, appears in La Comédie de la Mort, Paris, Éd. Desessart, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translation of title "Absence" = "Absence"
1 Bizet, David, Lavigne: "our"
This text was added to the website: 2015-01-28
Line count: 32
Word count: 190
Connaissez-vous la blanche tombe, Où flotte avec un son plaintif L'ombre d'un if ? Sur l'if une pâle colombe, Triste et seule au soleil couchant, Chante son chant : Un air maladivement tendre, À la fois charmant et fatal, Qui vous fait mal, Et qu'on voudrait toujours entendre ; Un air, comme en soupire aux cieux L'ange amoureux. On dirait que l'âme éveillée Pleure sous terre à l'unisson De la chanson, Et du malheur d'être oubliée Se plaint dans un roucoulement Bien doucement. Sur les ailes de la musique On sent lentement revenir Un souvenir; Une [ombre de forme]1 angélique, Passe dans un rayon tremblant, En voile blanc. Les belles-de-nuit demi-closes, Jettent leur parfum faible et doux Autour de vous, Et le fantôme aux molles poses Murmure en vous tendant les bras: « Tu reviendras ? » Oh! jamais plus, près de la tombe, Je n'irai, quand descend le soir Au manteau noir, Écouter la pâle colombe Chanter sur la [branche]2 de l'if Son chant plaintif !
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Marike Lindhout) , "Lamento", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Lament", copyright ©
- ENG English (Kyle Gee) , "Lament", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alberto Bonati) , copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 305.
1 Berlioz: "ombre, une forme"2 Duparc, Berlioz: "pointe"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
Do you know the white tomb Where floats with plaintive sound, The shadow of a yew? On the yew a pale dove, Sad and alone under the setting sun, Sings its song: An air sickly tender, At the same time charming and ominous, Which makes you feel agony Yet which you wish to hear always; An air like a sigh from the heavens of a love-lorn angel. One would say that an awakened soul Is weeping under the earth in unison With this song, And from the misfortune of being forgotten, Moans its sorrow in a cooing Quite soft. On the wings of the music One feels the slow return Of a memory. A shadow, a form angelic, Passes in a trembling ray of light, In a white veil. The beautiful flowers of the night, half-closed, Send their perfume, faint and sweet, Around you, And the phantom of soft form Murmurs, reaching to you her arms: You will return! Oh! never again near the tomb Shall I go, when night lets fall Its black mantle, To hear the pale dove Sing on the limb of the yew Its plaintive song!
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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
Berlioz's title could be translated "At the cemetery" or "To the cemetery"This text was added to the website: 2003-10-20
Line count: 36
Word count: 190
Dites, la jeune belle, Où voulez-vous aller ? La voile [ouvre]1 son aile, La brise va souffler ! L'aviron est d'ivoire, Le pavillon de moire, Le gouvernail d'or fin ; J'ai pour lest une orange, Pour voile une aile d'ange, Pour mousse un séraphin. Dites, la jeune belle ! Où voulez-vous aller? La voile [ouvre]1 son aile, La brise va souffler ! Est-ce dans la Baltique, [Sur]2 la mer Pacifique, Dans l'île de Java ? Ou bien [dans la]3 Norwége, Cueillir la fleur de neige, Ou la fleur d'Angsoka ? Dites, la jeune belle, Où voulez-vous aller? [La voile ouvre son aile, La brise va souffler!]4 -- Menez-moi, dit la belle, À la rive fidèle Où l'on aime toujours. -- Cette rive, ma chère, On ne la connaît guère Au pays des amours.
Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Barcarolle", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Dite, mia giovane bella", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Théophile Gauthier, La comédie de la mort, Desessart editeur, Paris, 1838, page 309.
1 Berlioz: "enfle"2 Berlioz, Gounod: "Dans"
3 Berlioz, Gounod: "est-ce en"
4 omitted by Berlioz and Gounod
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
Say, young beauty, Where do you wish to go? The sail swells, The breeze will blow. The oar is made of ivory, The flag is of silk, The helm is of fine gold; I have for ballast an orange, For a sail, the wing of an angel, For a deck boy, a seraph. Say, young beauty, Where do you wish to go? The sail swells, The breeze will blow. Is it to the Baltic? To the Pacific Ocean? To the island of Java? Or else to Norway, To gather the flower of the snow, Or the flower of Angsoka? Say, young beauty, Where do you wish to go? The sail swells, The breeze will blow. -- Lead me, says the beauty, To the faithful shore Where one loves always! -- This shore, my darling, We hardly know at all In the land of Love.
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 Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For 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 Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Barcarolle", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
Go to the single-text view
Note: this is a translation of Berlioz's version.
Translation of title "L'île inconnue" = "The unknown land"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 142