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Du grand Turc je n'ai souci, Ni du grand Soudan aussi; L'or ne maîtrise ma vie, Aux Rois je ne porte envie; [J'ai souci tant seulement De parfumer cointement Ma barbe,]1 et qu'une couronne De fleurs le chef m'environne. Le soin de ce jour me point, Du demain je n'en ai point. Qui, bons Dieux! pourrait connaître Si un lendemain doit être? Vulcain, en faveur de moi, Je te pri', dépêche-toi De me tourner une tasse, Qui de profondeur surpasse Celle du vieillard Nestor; Je ne veux qu'elle soit d'or, Sans plus fais-la-moi de chêne, Ou de lierre, ou de frêne. Ne m'engrave point dedans Ces grands panaches pendants, Plastrons, morions, ni armes: Qu'ai-je souci des alarmes, Des assauts ou des combats? Aussi ne m'y grave pas Ni le Soleil, ni la Lune, Ni le jour, ni la nuit brune, Ni les Astres radieux: Et quel soin ai-je des cieux, De leurs Ours, de leur Charrette? D'Orion ou de Boète? Mais peins-moi, je te supplie, D'une treille le repli Non encore vendangée; Peins une vigne chargée De grappes et de raisins; Peins-y des fouleurs de vins, Le nez et la rouge trogne D'un Silène et d'un ivrogne.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Leguerney: "Je n'ai souci que d'aimer/ Moi-même, et me parfumer/ D'odeurs" ; further changes may exist not noted above.
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585), no title, appears in L'inspiration anacréontique , no. 2 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Louis Théodore Gouvy (1819 - 1898), "Du grand Turc je n'ai souci", published 1876 [ voice and piano ], from 40 Poèmes de Ronsard, no. 32, Paris, Éd Simon Richault [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jacques Leguerney (1906 - 1997), "L'insouciant", 1947, published 1986, first performed 1952 [ baritone and piano ], from Poèmes de la Pléiade, Vol. VI, no. 3, Paris, Max Eschig [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , "I don't care about the Grand Turk", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-02
Line count: 40
Word count: 198
I don't care about the Grand Turk Nor the Great Sudan Gold is not master in my life I have no envy of kings. [In fact my only care is To perfume calmly My beard]1, and put a crown Of flowers around my head. Today's care is enough for today For tomorrow I don't care at all. Who, by the gods, could even be sure That tomorrow will really come? Vulcan, while you favour me I beg you hurry To make me a cup Which in its volume surpasses That of old Nestor. I want only that it be of gold Without any fiddly fittings of oak Or ivy or ash Engrave me within it none of Those great swinging plumes, Breastplates, helmets or weapons: What do I care about battle's alarms Or assaults or fighting? Also don't engrave on it for me Sun or Moon Day or dark night Nor radiant stars: What do I care for the heavens The Great Bear, Auriga, Orion or Boötes? Instead, paint me I beg The meanders of a climbing vine Not yet harvested; Paint a vine heavy With bunches of grapes, Paint there the treading of the grapes The nose and the red face Of a Silenus and a drunkard.
Translator's notes:
Stanza 5, line 1: Nestor's proverbially huge cup is described in the Iliad (translation by Ian Johnston, mala.bc.ca):
When that cup was full, another man could hardly lift it from the table
Stanza 8, line 3: i.e., the Big Dipper
1 Legeurney: "My only care is to love / Myself, and to perfume myself / With scent"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 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, appears in L'inspiration anacréontique , no. 2
This text was added to the website: 2012-06-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 208