The Jade Flute

Translations © by Grant Hicks

Song Cycle by Julián Bautista (1901 - 1961)

View original-language texts alone: La flûte de jade, op. 2

1. Je me promenais
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
En files noirs, 
des oies sauvages traversent le ciel. 
On voit, dans les arbres, 
des nids abandonnés. 
Les montagnes semblent plus lourdes. 

J'ai trouvé près de ma fontaine, 
la flûte de jade 
que tu avais perdue, cet été. 
L'herbe haute l'avait soustraite à nos recherches. 

Mais l'herbe est morte, 
et la flûte brillait au soleil, ce soir. 
J'ai pensé à notre amour, 
qui est resté si longtemps 
enseveli sous nos scrupules.

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by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
1. I was walking
Language: English 
In black columns, 
the wild geese cross the sky. 
In the trees, one sees
abandoned nests. 
The mountains seem heavier. 

Next to my fountain I found 
the jade flute 
that you'd lost this summer. 
The high grass had hidden it from our searching. 

But the grass is dead, 
and this morning the flute was gleaming in the sun. 
I thought of our love, 
which has remained so long
buried beneath our misgivings.

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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Translations of titles:
"Je me promenais" = "I was walking"
"La flûte de jade" = "The Jade Flute"



This text was added to the website: 2026-04-13
Line count: 14
Word count: 72

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. Depuis qu'elle est partie
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Ne m'apportez plus de fleurs, 
mais de branches de cyprès 
où je plongerais mon visage ! 
Quand le soleil a disparu 
derrière les montagnes, 
je mets ma robe bleu 
aux manches légères, 
et je vais dormir
parmi les bambous qu'elle aimait.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 3.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
2. Since she went away...
Language: English 
Bring me no more flowers, 
but cypress branches 
for me to bury my face in! 
When the sun has disappeared 
behind the mountains, 
I put on my blue robe
with light sleeves 
and I go and sleep 
among the bamboo that she loved.

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: 2026-04-12
Line count: 9
Word count: 43

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Mon amie
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
A la porte Occidentale de la ville, 
rient des jeunes filles 
onduleuses et légères 
comme de nuages de printemps. 
Mais je dédaigne leur charme,
puisque, dans sa robe blanche, 
et sous son voile épais,
mon amie est plus gracieuse. 

A la porte Orientale de la ville, 
rêvent des jeunes filles 
éclatantes et jolies 
comme des fleurs de printemps. 
Mais je dédaigne leurs parfums, 
puisque, dans sa robe blanche 
et sous son voile épais, 
mon amie est plus odorante !

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, pages 2-3.

Note: the original Chinese poem is attributed to Tsao Chang Ling, an 18th century author, but a similar translation by Thalasso attributes its original Chinese poem to an anonymous ancient poet included in the Chi-King.

by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
3. My Love
Language: English 
At the Western gate of the city,
maidens laugh,
as light and billowy
as Spring clouds.
But I scorn their charms,
for, in her white robe
and behind her thick veil,
my love is more graceful.

At the Eastern gate of the city,
maidens dream,
as lovely and radiant
as Spring flowers.
But I scorn their scents,
for, in her white robe
and behind her thick veil,
my love is more fragrant!

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 72

Translation © by Grant Hicks