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April Poem
Song Cycle by Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912)
View original-language texts alone: Poème d'avril
Une rose frileuse, au cœur noyé de pluie, Sur un rameau tremblant vient de s'épanouir, Et je me sens repris de la douce folie De faire des chansons et de me souvenir. Les amours trépassés qui dormaient dans mon âme, Doux Lazare sur qui j'ai tant versé de pleurs, Soulèvent, en riant, leur suaire de fleurs, Et demandent le nom de ma nouvelle dame. Ma Mignonne aux yeux bleus, mets ta robe et fuyons, Sous les [bois]1 remplis d'ombre et de mélancolie, Chercher le doux remède à la douce folie. -- Le soleil m'a blessé de ses premiers rayons !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 1
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Prelude", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Jongen: "grands bois"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
A delicate rose, with its heart full of rain, has just opened on a trembling stem, and I am gripped again by the sweet madness of making songs and remembering! The dead loves that lay dormant in my soul (sweet Lazaruses on whom I've shed many tears) laughingly lift up their shroud of flowers and ask the name of my new lady. Oh blue-eyed darling, put your dress on, let's run away through the melancholy shady woods to seek the sweet remedy for sweet madness. - The sun has wounded me with its first rays!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 1
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 95
Les étoiles effarouchées Viennent de s'envoler des cieux : J'en sais deux qui se sont cachées, Mignonne, dans vos jolis yeux, A l'ombre de vos cils soyeux Et sous vos paupières penchées : Attendez! -- mes baisers joyeux Les auront bientôt dénichées ! Vous feignez de dormir encor : Éveillez-vous, mon doux trésor ! L'aube pleure sous les feuillées, Le ciel désert est plein d'ennui. -- Ouvrez les yeux et rendez-lui Les deux étoiles envolées !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 4, first published 1875
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Morning sonnet", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
The frightened stars have just flown from the sky. And I know two of them which hid, darling, in your pretty eyes, shaded by your silky eyebrows under your lowered lids. Wait! my joyful kisses will soon have ferreted them out! You pretend to be still asleep. Wake up, my treasure, my sweet! - The dawn is weeping under the leaves. The empty sky is full of boredom. - Oh, open your eyes and restore to it those two stars that flew away!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 4, first published 1875
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 83
Voici que les grans lys ont vêtu leur blancheur : Sur les gazons tremblants l'aube étend sa fraîcheur ! -- C'est le printemps ! c'est le matin ! Double jeunesse. Ma mie, en s'éveillant, m'a dit : « Le beau soleil ! Le temps est donc venu que tout charme renaisse. Partout des chants ! Partout des fleurs ! Double réveil !» Mais le tièdeur de l'air la rendant moins farouche, Je me penchai vers elle et je posai ma bouche Sur son front et sur ses cheveux, double trésor !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 5
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Now the large lilies", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Now the large lilies have dressed in white, and dawn spreads her freshness on the quivering lawn. It is spring! It is morning! A double time of youth! My darling, as she awoke, said: "What beautiful sunshine! The time has come when all charms are reborn. Songs everywhere! Flowers everywhere! A double awakening!" Since the warmth of the air was making her less coy, I leant over her and I placed my lips on her forehead and her hair - oh, double treasure!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 5
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 9
Word count: 83
Riez-vous ? Ne riez-vous pas ? Quand vous l'avez dit tout à l'heure, Ce mot ! Vous l'avez dit si bas ! ... Je n'ai pas compris, mais je pleure. -- Riez-vous ? Ne riez-vous pas ? Pitié ! votre bouche m'effleure. Ce bruit ! Vous l'avez fait si bas !... Si c'est un baiser, que je meure ! -- Riez-vous ? Ne riez-vous pas ? Si c'est un baiser, que je meure ! Sur mon cou je sens votre bras ... Vous m'avez baisé tout à l'heure ! Je n'ose y croire, mais je pleure. -- Riez-vous ? Ne riez-vous pas ?
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 6
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Are you laughing?", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Are you laughing? Or aren't you? When just now you said that word - you spoke so softly - I didn't understand, but I'm in tears. Are you laughing? Or aren't you? Have pity! Your lips brush against me; that noise - you made it so softly - if it's a kiss, oh may I die! Are you laughing? Or aren't you? If it's a kiss, oh may I die! I feel your arm on my neck... You kissed me a moment ago! I don't dare believe it, but I'm in tears. Are you laughing? Or aren't you?
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 6
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 98
Le doux printemps a bu, dans le creux de sa main, Le premier pleur qu'au bois laissa tomber l'aurore ; Vous aimerez demain, vous qui n'aimiez encore, Et vous qui n'aimiez plus, vous aimerez demain! -- Le doux printemps a bu dans le creux de sa main. Le printemps a cueilli, dans l'air, des fils de soie Pour lier sa chaussure et courir par les bois ; Vous aimerez demain pour la première fois, Vous qui ne saviez pas cette immmortelle joie ! -- Le printemps a cueilli, dans l'air, des fils de soie. Le printemps a jeté des fleurs sur le chemin [Quand Myrto le]1 remplit de son rire sonore ; Vous aimerez demain, vous qui n'aimiez encore, Et vous qui n'aimiez plus, vous aimerez demain! -- Le printemps a jeté des fleurs sur le chemin.
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Myrto, no. 1
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Tomorrow you will love", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Samuel Byrne) , "You will love tomorrow"
- GER German (Deutsch) (Nathalie Senf) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Lavigne, Massenet : "Que Mignonne"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Sweet Springtime has drunk from the hollow of his hand the first tear which dawn let fall in the woods. Tomorrow you will love, you who've not yet been lovers; and you whose love was over, tomorrow you will love! Sweet Springtime has drunk from the hollow of his hand. From the air Spring has gathered threads of silk so as to lace his shoes and run through the woods. Tomorrow you will love for the very first time, you who did not know this immortal joy. From the air Spring has gathered threads of silk. Spring has strewn flowers along the path which my darling fills with her sonorous laugh. Tomorrow you will love, you who've not yet been lovers; and you whose love was over, tomorrow you will love! Spring has strewn flowers along the path.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Myrto, no. 1
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This text was added to the website: 2003-12-29
Line count: 15
Word count: 138
Que l'heure est donc brève, Qu'on passe en aimant ! C'est moins qu'un moment, Un peu plus qu'un rêve. Le temps nous enlève Notre enchantement. Que l'heure est donc brève, Qu'on passe en aimant! Sous le flot dormant Soupirait la grève ; M'aimais-tu vraiment ? Fût-ce seulement Un peu plus qu'un rève ?... -- Que l'heure est donc brève, Qu'on passe en aimant !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, written 1866, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 15, appears in Rimes neuves et vieilles, in 2. Mignonne, no. 10, Paris, Éd. Dentu, first published 1866
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "How brief the hour", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Nathalie Senf) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
How brief is the hour that we spend in loving! it's less than a moment, a little longer than a dream. Time takes away from us all our enchantments. How brief is the hour that we spend in loving! Under the sleeping waves the beach kept on sighing; Did you really love me? Did you, if only for a little longer than a dream? How brief is the hour that we spend in loving!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, written 1866, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 15, appears in Rimes neuves et vieilles, in 2. Mignonne, no. 10, Paris, Éd. Dentu, first published 1866
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 75
Sur la source elle se pencha; La source doubla son image, Et ce fut un charmant mirage, Qu'un peu de vent effaroucha. Sous les grands bois elle chanta : L'oiseau doubla son chant sauvage, Et ce fut un charmant ramage, Que le vent lointain emporta. Quand j'effleurai son doux visage, Sa bouche ma bouche doubla... Le vent peut balayer la plage, [Ô Myrto]1, que me fait l'orage ? -- Ton baiser reste toujours là !
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Myrto, no. 2
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Over the pool", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Massenet: "Mignonne"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Over the pool she leant; the pool mirrored her form - it was a charming mirage, which a gust of wind scared away. Under the tall trees she sang; a bird echoed her wild song - it was a charming warbling, which the wind carried off into the distance. When I stroked her sweet face, her mouth mimicked my mouth. - Oh the wind may sweep the beach, darling, but what do I care about the storm? Your kiss stays for ever!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Myrto, no. 2
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 13
Word count: 82
(The following is a multi-text setting.)
Nous nous sommes aimés trois jours ;
Trois jours elle me fut fidèle.
- Trois jours! - La constance éternelle
Et les éternelles amours !
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 17
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Je pars ! Adieu, ma chère âme, Garde bien mon souvenir ! -- Quoi ! [sitôt partir, ma Dame !]1 Ne devez-vous revenir ? -- Si -- je reviendrai peut-être ; Si -- bien sûr je reviendrai ... Va m'attendre à la fenêtre ; De plus loin te reverrai. J'attendis à la fenêtre Le retour tant espéré, Mais, ni bien sûr, ni peut-être, Ni jamais la reverrai! Bien fol qui croit quand [sa Dame]2 Lui jure de revenir. Je meurs ! -- Adieu, ma chère âme ! J'ai gardé ton souvenir.
Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "Complainte", appears in Rimes neuves et vieilles, in 2. Mignonne, no. 12
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Farewell (Lament)", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Armand Silvestre, Rimes neuves et vieilles, Paris, E. Dentu, 1866, pages 76-77.
1 Massenet: "si tôt partir, madame"2 Massenet: "une dame"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
We were lovers for three days. For three days she was faithful. Three days: that's eternal constancy, eternal love!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), no title, appears in Poésies 1861-1874, in 1. Les amours, in 2. Vers pour être chantés, in Mignonne, no. 17
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Note: this is a translation of the spoken introduction to Massenet's song, which sets only the first stanza.I'm off! Good-bye, my dear, remember me well! - What? Leaving so soon, madam? Won't you be returning? - Yes, perhaps I will. Yes, of course I'll be back. Wait for me at the window; I'll see you from a distance. I waited at the window for her hoped-for return. But neither "of course" nor "perhaps" nor ever will I see her again! When a woman swears she'll return, only a foolish man believes her. I'm dying! Good-bye, my dear! Yes, I've remembered you!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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 Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "Complainte", appears in Rimes neuves et vieilles, in 2. Mignonne, no. 12
Go to the single-text view