Seven Mélodies

Translations © by Grant Hicks

by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985)

View original-language texts alone: Sept mélodies

1. Un cygne avance sur l'eau
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Un cygne avance sur l'eau 
tout entouré de lui-même, 
comme un glissant tableau;
ainsi à certains instants
un être que l'on aime 
est tout un espace mouvant.

Il se rapproche, doublé, 
comme ce cygne qui nage,
sur notre âme troublée...
qui à cet être ajoute 
la tremblante image
de bonheur et de doute.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. A swan advances over the water
Language: English 
A swan advances over the water 
all wrapped up in itself 
like a gliding tableau. 
Thus at certain moments 
a being that one loves 
seems just a moving space. 

He draws near, doubled 
like that swan who swims 
across our troubled soul, 
who adds to this being 
the trembling image 
of happiness and of doubt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 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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Translations of titles:
"Un cygne" = "A Swan"
"Un cygne avance sur l'eau" = "A swan advances over the water"



This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. La biche
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Ô la biche : quel bel intérieur
d'anciennes forêts dans tes yeux abonde ; 
combien de confiance ronde 
mêlée à combien de peur.

Tout cela, porté par la vive 
gracilité de tes bonds. 
Mais jamais rien n'arrive 
à cette impossessive 
ignorance de ton front.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. The Doe
Language: English 
O doe, what lovely ancient forest 
depths abound in your eyes; 
how much open trust 
mixed with how much fear.

All this, borne by the brisk 
gracility of your bounds. 
But nothing ever disturbs 
that unpossessive 
unawareness of your brow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 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: 2025-05-06
Line count: 9
Word count: 40

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. En hiver  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
En hiver, la mort meurtrière 
entre dans les maisons ;
elle cherche la sœur, le père,
et leur joue du violon.

Mais quand la terre remue
sous la bêche du printemps,
la mort court dans les rues
et salue les passants.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. In Winter
Language: English 
In Winter, murderous Death 
comes into the houses, 
seeks out sister and father 
and plays to them on the fiddle. 

But when the earth turns 
under Springtime's spade 
Death runs through the streets 
and greets the passers-by.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 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:
"En hiver" = "In Winter"
"En hiver, la mort" = "In Winter, Death"
"En hiver, la mort meurtrière" = "In WInter, murderous Death"



This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. Puisque tout passe
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Puisque tout passe, faisons
la mélodie passagère ;
celle qui nous désaltère,
aura de nous raison.

Chantons ce qui nous quitte
avec amour et art ;
soyons plus vite
que le rapide départ.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Since Everything Passes
Language: English 
Since everything passes, 
let us make fleeting melody; 
the one that refreshes us 
will get the better of us. 

Let us sing that which is leaving us 
with love and art; 
let us be quicker 
than its swift departure.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 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:
"Puisque tout passe" = "Since Everything Passes"
"Puisque tout passe, faisons" = "Since everything passes, let us make"
"Vergers XXXVI" = "Orchards XXXVI"



This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Grant Hicks
5. Qui vient finir le temple
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Qui vient finir le temple de l'Amour ? 
Chacun en emporte une colonne ; 
et à la fin tout le monde s'étonne 
que le dieu à son tour 

de sa flèche brise l'enceinte. 
(Tel nous le connaissons.) 
Et sur ce mur d'abandon 
pousse la plainte.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
5. Who is coming to finish the temple
Language: English 
Who is coming to finish Love's temple?
Each one brings a column;
and at the end everyone is astonished
that the god in his turn

breaches the wall with his arrow.
(We know he is like this.)
And on this wall of abandon 
the complaint grows.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 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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Translations of titles:
"Qui vient finir le temple" = "Who is coming to finish the temple"
"Vergers XVII" = "Orchards XVII"



This text was added to the website: 2025-08-31
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Grant Hicks
6. N'est‑ce pas triste
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ? 
On voudrait avoir les yeux toujours ouverts, 
pour avoir vu, avant le terme, 
tout ce que l'on perd. 

N'est-il pas terrible que nos dents brillent ? 
Il nous aurait fallu un charme plus discret 
pour vivre en famille 
en ce temps de paix. 

Mais n'est-ce pas le pire que nos mains se cramponnent, 
dures et gourmandes ? 
Faut-il que des mains soient simples et bonnes 
pour lever l'offrande !

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
6. Isn't it sad
Language: English 
Isn't it sad that our eyes close?
One would like to have one's eyes always open,
to have seen beforehand 
all that is being lost.

Isn't it terrible that our teeth shine?
We would have needed a discreeter charm
to live as family 
in this time of peace.

But isn't it the worst that our hands grasp,
hard and greedy?
Hands must be simple and good
to lift up the offering!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 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:
"N'est-ce pas triste" = "Isn't it sad"
"N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?" = "Isn't it sad that our eyes close?"



This text was added to the website: 2025-07-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Grant Hicks
7. Verger
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Jamais la terre n'est plus réelle
que dans tes branches, ô verger blond,
ni plus flottante que dans la dentelle
que font les ombres sur le gazon.

Là se rencontre ce qui nous reste,
ce qui pèse et ce qui nourrit,
avec le passage manifeste
de la tendresse infinie.

Mais à ton centre, la calme fontaine,
presque dormant en son ancien rond,
de ce contraste parle à peine,
tant en elle il se confond.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
7. Orchard
Language: English 
Never is the earth more solid than 
in your branches, O fair orchard, 
Nor more buoyant than in the lacework 
the shadows make upon the grass. 

There we meet what remains to us, 
what has weight and nourishes us, 
along with the manifest passing 
of infinite tenderness. 

But at your heart the calm fountain, 
almost asleep in its ancient circle, 
speaks hardly at all of these contrasts, 
so much are they mixed up in it.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 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:

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This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Grant Hicks