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Gallant festivities
Song Cycle by Claude Achille Debussy (1862 - 1918)
View original-language texts alone: Fêtes Galantes II
Les hauts talons luttaient avec les longues jupes, En sorte que, selon le terrain et le vent, Parfois luisaient des bas de [jambe]1, trop souvent Interceptés ! — et nous aimions ce jeu de dupes. Parfois aussi le dard d'un insecte jaloux Inquiétait le col des belles sous les branches, Et c'étaient des éclairs soudains des nuques blanches, Et ce régal comblait nos jeunes yeux de fous. Le soir tombait, un soir équivoque d'automne : Les belles, se pendant rêveuses à nos bras, Dirent alors des mots si spécieux, tout bas, Que notre âme, depuis ce temps, tremble et s'étonne.
Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Les ingénus", written 1869, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 7, Paris, Édition Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Nita Cox) , "Youthful lovers", first published 1904
- ENG English (Jordyn Elizabeth Beranek) , "Young lovers", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Die Arglosen", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Fêtes galantes, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1869, pages 13-14. Note: All the ampersands (&) that appeared in the first publication were changed to "et".
1 Debussy: "jambes"Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
When gentle zephyrs toss'd aside the dainty dresses Flashed all too quick such glimpse of tiny high heeled shoe As made us wish that t'were a hurricane that blew, Such charm it lent: so sweet its play with gown and tresses And when, beneath the shade of the wide spreading boughs, Silent we sat, perchance some ruthless insect darting His dagger keen into snowy arm or neck set smarting Gave us excuse to soothe while murm'ring tender vows. Warm and serene, the charm of the evening enthralled us While Beauty pensive sat, and answered soft and slow Laughing no longer at the words we spoke so low Love was king: to his fairy world beckoned and called us.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Nita Cox , "Youthful lovers", first published 1904
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Les ingénus", written 1869, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 7, Paris, Édition Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
Go to the single-text view
From an old Debussy edition.Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 118
Un vieux faune de terre cuite Rit au centre des boulingrins, Présageant sans doute une suite Mauvaise à ces instants sereins Qui m'ont conduit et t'ont conduite, Mélancoliques pèlerins, Jusqu'à cette heure dont la fuite Tournoie au son des tambourins.
Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Le faune", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 14, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Na sošku fauna v parku"
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "The faun", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Nita Cox) , "The dancing faun"
- ENG English (Charles Hopkins) , "The faun", written 2002, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Charles Hopkins) , "The Faun", written c2005, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Der Faun", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Tamás Rédey) , "A faun", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Fêtes galantes, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1869, page 31.
Note: The ampersand (&) as appears in the first publication is changed to "et".
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
An old faun made of terra-cotta stands laughing in the middle of the lawn doubtless predicting an unhappy sequel to these serene moments which have brought you and me (a couple of melancholy pilgrims) to this brief transient hour which now is whirling away to the beat of little drums.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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 Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Le faune", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 14, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 50
Dans le vieux parc solitaire et glacé, Deux formes ont tout à l'heure passé. Leurs yeux sont morts et leurs lèvres sont molles, Et l'on entend à peine leurs paroles. Dans le vieux parc solitaire et glacé, Deux spectres ont évoqué le passé. — Te souvient-il de notre extase ancienne ? — Pourquoi voulez-vous donc qu'il m'en souvienne ? — Ton cœur bat-il toujours à mon seul nom ? Toujours vois-tu mon âme en rêve ? — Non. — Ah ! les beaux jours de bonheur indicible Où nous joignions nos bouches ! — C'est possible. — Qu'il était bleu, le ciel, et grand, l'espoir ! — L'espoir a fui, vaincu, vers le ciel noir. Tels ils marchaient dans les avoines folles, Et la nuit seule entendit leurs paroles.
Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Colloque sentimental", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 22, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Peter Low) , "Sentimental dialogue", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Ernest Christopher Dowson) , no title, appears in Decorations, in After Paul Verlaine, no. 2
- ENG English [singable] (Nita Cox) , "The colloquy"
- GER German (Deutsch) (Pierre Mathé) , "Gefühlvolles Zwiegespräch", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Wehmütige Zwiesprache", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Colloquio sentimentale", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Benjamin Oblitas Mollinedo) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Fêtes galantes, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1869, pages 49-51.
Note: The ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
In the old park's desolation and frost the paths of two ghostly figures have crossed. Their eyes are dead and their lips slack and gray and one can scarcely hear the words they say. In the old park's desolation and frost two spectres have been evoking the past. - "Do you recall our bliss of that September?" - "Why ever should you wish me to remember?" - "Now when you hear my name does your heart-rate grow? Do you still see me in your dreams?" - "No." - Ah, the enchantment of loving so dearly, those kisses that we shared!" - "Did we really?" Skies were so blue and hopes so high, so proud! Defeated hope has fled in a sombre cloud. Thus did they walk in the wild grass swaying. Only the night heard the words they were saying.
Authorship:
- Singable translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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 Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Colloque sentimental", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 22, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 143