English translation of Ngo gay ngy

by Louis Delune (1876 - 1940), "Ngo gay ngy", 1922, published 1924 [ medium voice, piano, flute ad libitum ], from Le Collier des offrandes, six poèmes lyriques d'après des poésies chinoises, no. 6, Paris, Éditions Hérelle, Fortemps, & Cie

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Comme la lune dans le ciel bleu,
je suis seule dans ma chambre.
J'ai éteint la lampe, je pleure.
Je pleure parce que vous êtes loin de moi
et que vous ne saurez jamais
combien je vous aime.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 88.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
C'est un arbuste dépourvu de feuilles et de fleurs.
Ni pierre ni jade. Qui nous l'a envoyé ?
Mais qui t'a donné ce cœur insensible, my bien-aimée ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 91.


Researcher for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] 
Une chanson, là-bas... C'est un mendiant.
Puisqu’il chante, ce vieillard  qui n’a jamais rien possédé,
pourquoi gémis-tu, toi qui as de si beaux souvenirs ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 82.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , François Le Roux [Guest Editor] 
Nuit tiède, clair de lune, parfum des pruniers, 
donnez à ma bien-aimée un rêve délicieux ! 
Faites qu'elle soit impatiente de me revoir, et, 
qu'à l'aurore, elle vienne frapper à ma porte !

Parfum des pruniers, clair de lune, nuit tiède,
je saurai, par ses baisers, si vous m’avez entendu...

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade ; poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1922, page 129.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor] 
Tu as laissé tomber dans la poussière
la tulipe rouge que je t'avais donnée.
Je l'ai ramassée.
Elle était devenue blanche.
En ce bref instant, il avait neigé sur notre amour.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 23.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] 
Ma bien-aimée sait que je te contemple
quand tes rayons la caressent, ô lune, 
et notre séparation est moins cruelle.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade, Paris: H. Piazza, 1933, page 108.


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
Like the moon in the blue sky, 
I am alone in my room. 
I've put out the lamp; I am crying. 
I am crying because you are far away
and because you will never know 
how much I 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.
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Translations of titles:
"Combien je vous aime" = "How Much I Love You"
"Ngo Gay Ngy" = "Ngo Gay Ngy"



It is a bush devoid of leaves or flowers. 
Neither stone nor jade. Who sent it to us? 
But who gave you your insensitive heart, my beloved?

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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A song, over there... It's a beggar.
Since he sings, this old man who has never possessed anything,
why do you moan, you who have such beautiful memories?

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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Warm night, light of the moon, scent of the plum trees, 
give my beloved a delightful dream! 
Make her eager to see me again, so that, 
at dawn, she comes to knock at my door! 

Scent of the plum trees, light of the moon, warm night, 
I will know by her kisses whether you have heard me...

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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You dropped in the dust
the red tulip I'd given you. 
I picked it back up. 
It had become white. 
In that brief instant, it had snowed on our love.

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:
"Dernière promenade" = "Last Stroll"
"La dernière promenade" = "The Last Stroll"



My beloved knows that I am looking at you
while your rays caress her, O moon, 
and our separation is less cruel.

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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Translation © by Grant Hicks