by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
Translation © by Grant Hicks

Chant d'amour
Language: French (Français)  after the Chinese (中文) 
Our translations:  ENG
Tes mains sont deux fleurs de lân.
Tes pieds sont deux bourgeons de fleurs de magnolia.
Tes joues sont deux tulipes.
Ta bouche est une goutte de corail.
Tes seins sont deux oranges de Kiang-nân
Ton parfum est celui du printemps.
Ta voix est plus séduisante que le chant de la brise
dans les saules qui reverdissent.
Ton haleine est plus grisante que l'odeur d'une pagode
où brûlent des aromates.
Tu es plus belle qu'une fleur d'abricotier arrosée de lune.
Tu es toutes les fleurs, tous les parfums,
tu es la splendeur du monde.
Lorsque je pense à toi, je n'envie plus les dieux.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   A. de Polignac 

View text with all available footnotes

Confirmed with André Lejard, ed., La femme et l'amour, Lausanne: La guilde du livre, 1947, Page 65.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general view


Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-02-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 105

Love Song
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
Your hands are two flowers of lân.
Your feet are two buds of magnolia blossoms.
Your cheeks are two tulips.
Your mouth is a drop of coral.
Your breasts are two oranges of Kiang-nân.
Your aroma is that of Spring.
Your voice is more seductive than the song of the breeze
in the greening willows.
Your breath is more intoxicating than the scent of a pagoda
where spices are burning.
You are more beautiful than an apricot flower sprinkled with moonlight.
You are all the flowers, all the perfumes,
you are the splendor of the world.
When I think of you, I no longer envy the gods.

Available sung text translations:   ← What is this?

•   A. de Polignac 

View text with all available footnotes

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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.
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Based on:

Based on:

Go to the general view


This text was added to the website: 2026-06-17
Line count: 14
Word count: 110