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Le ciel ne veut, Dame, que je jouysse De ce doux bien que dessert mon devoir ; Aussi ne veu-je, et ne me plaist d'avoir Sinon du mal en vous faisant service. Puisqu'il vous plaist que pour vous je languisse, Je suis heureux, et ne puis recevoir Plus grand honneur, qu'en [mourant, de]1 me voir Faire à voz yeux de mon cœur sacrifice. Donc si ma main, maugré moi, quelque fois De l'amour chaste outrepasse les Loix, Dans vostre sein cherchant ce qui m'embraise, Punisses-la [du foudre]2 de [vos yeux]3, Et la brules : car j'ayme beaucoup mieux Vivre sans main, que ma main vous déplaise.
F. Regnard sets lines 1-8
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Bertrand: "trespassant"
2 Bertrand: "d'un seul trait"
3 Maletty: "tes yeux"
Modernized form of the text:
Le Ciel ne veut, Dame, que je jouisse De ce doux bien que dessert mon devoir ; Aussi ne veux-je, et ne me plaît d'avoir Sinon du mal en vous faisant service. Puisqu'il vous plaît, que pour vous je languisse, Je suis heureux, et ne puis recevoir Plus grand honneur, qu'en mourant, de me voir Faire à vos yeux de mon cœur sacrifice. Donc si ma main, malgré moi, quelquefois De l'amour chaste outrepasse les lois, Dans votre sein cherchant ce qui m'embraise, Punissez-la du foudre de vos yeux, Et la brûlez : car j'aime beaucoup mieux Vivre sans main, que ma main vous déplaise.
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585), no title [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Anthoine de Bertrand (1540? - 1581?), "Le ciel ne veut, Dame, que joüisse ", 1576, published 1578, first performed 1576 [ vocal quartet a cappella ], from Les Amours de Pierre de Ronsard à 4 parties, Livre 1, no. 23 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jean de Maletty (flourished 16th century), "Le ciel ne veut, Dame, que je jouysse" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by François Regnard (c1530 - c1600), "Le ciel ne veut, Dame, que joüisse", lines 1-8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-23
Line count: 14
Word count: 104
Heaven does not wish me, Lady, to enjoy This sweet goodness to which my efforts minister; I too do not wish it, and yet it pleases me to have instead some ill in doing you service. Since it pleases you that I pine for you I am glad, and cannot receive Any greater honour than to be seen, dying, To make sacrifice of my heart to your eyes. So if my hand despite myself sometimes Goes further than the chaste laws of love allow Seeking in your breast that which enflames me, Punish it with [the lightning of]1 your eyes And burn it; for I far prefer To live without a hand, than that my hand should displease.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Bertrand: "one blow from"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2014 by David Wyatt, (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 Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585), no title
This text was added to the website: 2014-10-25
Line count: 14
Word count: 118