The Garden of Caresses - Antar's Tomb

Translations © by Grant Hicks

Song Cycle by J. Boutnikoff

View original-language texts alone: Le Jardin des caresses - Le tombeau d'Antar, op. 22

1. Le désespoir  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Tu veux mon cœur ? Je ne l'ai plus. 
Tu sais qui me l'a volé.
Tu veux mon âme ? Je ne l'ai plus. 
Demande-la donc à l'Ange noir. 
Je te donnerai mes quatre poignards
pour que tu me cloues sur ta porte,
mais laisse-moi te dire mon amour !
— Puisque tu veux mourir, que ferai-je de ton amour ? 
— Une chanson que tu chanteras sur ma tombe.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le Jardin des Caresses, 73e édition, Paris : L'édition d'art H. Piazza, 1921, p.78


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
1. Despair
Language: English 
You want my heart? I no longer have it.
You know who stole it from me.
You want my soul? I no longer have it.
Go ask the black Angel for it.
I will give you my four daggers 
so that you can nail me to the door,
but let me tell you of my love!
"Since you want to die, what shall I make of your love?" 
"A song that you will sing over my grave."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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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This text was added to the website: 2026-02-26
Line count: 9
Word count: 77

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. Chanson  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Autrefois, j’ai vu la mer. 
Elle montait jusqu’à l’horizon 
comme une pelouse fleurie de tulipes blanches, 
qui étaient des voiles.
Un grand vent avait effeuillé ces tulipes, 
et leurs pétales glissaient, rapides,
gonflés comme tes seins. 
Autrefois, j’ai vu la mer.
Elle était fougueuse comme ton amour, 
et elle engloutissait les pêcheurs de rêves.
Sur la mer de ton amour, 
je me suis embarqué autrefois,
et si j’ai pu revenir au port, 
c’est parce que je ne t’ai pas aimée.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris: H. Piazza, 1921, p.73.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
2. Song
Language: English 
Once I saw the sea. 
It rose to the horizon
like a lawn abloom with white tulips,
which were sails.
A great wind had stripped these tulips
of their petals, which glided swiftly,
swollen like your breasts. 
Once I saw the sea. 
It was tempestuous like your love,
and it swallowed up the fishers of dreams. 
On the sea of your love
I once set sail, 
and if I've managed to return to port, 
it is because I didn't love you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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: 

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Translations of titles:
"Autrefois, j’ai vu la mer" = "Once I Saw the Sea"
"Chanson" = "Song"



This text was added to the website: 2026-02-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 81

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Le tombeau d'Antar  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Nul ne sait où repose Antar,
l'époux de la Victoire. 
Nul ne sait où sont maintenant suspendues ses armes. 
Sur la plus haute dune du Badiet-Es-Cham, 
son sépulcre, environné d'azur, 
sert-il de repaire à l'aigle, ou bien, dans El Djezireh, 
la contrée aux belles eaux, 
son mausolée est-il enfoui sous les fleurs ? 
Les récitants qui racontent ses exploits 
et qui suivent les caravanes,
cherchent peut-être son tombeau.
Une nuit, en rêve, je l'ai vu. 
Il était dans la plaine d'Oneïssa, 
non loin de la demeure d'Abla. 
Et, pareil à un étendard, un palmier, seul, le désignait.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, 73e édition, Paris: L'édition d'art H. Piazza, 1921, p.68.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
3. Antar's Tomb
Language: English 
No one knows where Antar lies, 
the husband of Victory. 
No one knows where his arms now are hung. 
On the highest dune of Badiet-Es-Cham, 
does his sepulcher, enveloped in azure, 
serve as an eagle's aerie, or else, in El Djezireh, 
the land of beautiful waters, 
is his mausoleum buried beneath the flowers? 
The storytellers who recount his exploits
and who follow the caravans 
perhaps are looking for his tomb.
One night I saw it in a dream.
It was on the plain of Oneïssa,
not far from Abla's dwelling.
And, like a flag, a lone palm was its sign.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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: 

Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2026-02-28
Line count: 15
Word count: 100

Translation © by Grant Hicks