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Three Songs of France
Song Cycle by Claude Achille Debussy (1862 - 1918)
View original-language texts alone: Trois Chansons de France
Le temps a laissé son manteau De vent de froidure et de pluie, Et s'est vêtu de broderie, De soleil luisant clair et beau. Il n'y a bête, ni oiseau, Qu'en son jargon ne chante ou crie : « Le temps a laissé son manteau De vent de froidure et de pluie.» Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau Portent en livrée jolie Gouttes d'argent d'orfèvrerie ; Chacun s'habille de nouveau !
Text Authorship:
- by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465), "Rondel LXIII"
See other settings of this text.
Auprès de cette grotte sombre
Où l'on respire un air si doux,
L'onde lutte avec les cailloux,
Et la lumière avecque l'ombre.
Ces flots lassés de l'exercice
Qu'ils ont fait dessus de gravier,
Se reposent dans ce vivier
Où mourut autrefois Narcisse.
...
L'ombre de cette fleur vermeille
Et celle de ces joncs pendants
Paraissent être là dedans
Les songes de l'eau qui sommeille.
Text Authorship:
- by Tristan L'Hermite François (1601 - 1655), "Le Promenoir des deux amants", written 1638, appears in Les Amours de Tristan, Chez Pierre Billaine, rue St Jacques à Paris, first published 1638
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Take my advice, dear Climene,
To let come the night,
I pray you, let us sit
By the edge of this fountain.
Do you not hear Zephyr breathe,
Marveling at attained love,
Seeing your rosy complexion
Which is not part of his empire?
[ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2004 by Ahmed E. Ismail, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Tristan L'Hermite François (1601 - 1655), "Le Promenoir des deux amants", written 1638, appears in Les Amours de Tristan, Chez Pierre Billaine, rue St Jacques à Paris, first published 1638
Go to the general single-text view
Note: this is a translation of stanzas 14-16.
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 65
Pour ce que Plaisance est morte Ce may, suis vestu de noir; C'est grand pitié de véoir Mon coeur qui s'en désconforte. Je m'abille de la sorte Que doy, pour faire devoir, Pour ce que Plaisance est morte, Ce may, suis vestu de noir. Le temps ces nouvelles porte Qui ne veut déduit avoir; Mais par force du plouvoir Fuit des champs clore la porte, Pour ce que Plaisance est morte.
Because Pleasure is dead this May, I am clad in black. It is a great pity to see my heart in such distress. It is my duty to dress this way; because Pleasure is dead this May, I am clad in black. The weather carries the news to those who had not heard, and the rain forces us in from the fields, behind closed doors, because Pleasure is dead.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 by Faith J. Cormier, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 13
Word count: 69