by
Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
Language: French (Français)
Our translations: CAT CHI ENG ENG
I
L'aurore s'allume ;
L'ombre épaisse fuit ;
Le rêve et la brume
Vont où va la nuit ;
Paupières et roses
S'ouvrent demi-closes ;
Du réveil des choses
On entend le bruit.
Tout chante et murmure,
Tout parle à la fois,
Fumée et verdure,
Les nids et les toits ;
Le vent parle aux chênes,
L'eau parle aux fontaines ;
Toutes les haleines
Deviennent des voix !
...
III
9. Ô terre ! ô merveilles
Dont l'éclat joyeux
Emplit nos oreilles,
Eblouit nos yeux !
Bords où meurt la vague,
Bois qu'un souffle élague,
De l'horizon vague
Plis mystérieux !
...
Saint livre où la voile
Qui flotte en tous lieux,
Saint livre où l'étoile
Qui rayonne aux yeux,
Ne trace, ô mystère !
Qu'un nom solitaire,
Qu'un nom sur la terre,
Qu'un nom dans les cieux !
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,9,16 of the original text.
Composition:
Set to music by Charles Marie Jean Albert Widor (1844 - 1937), "L'aurore", op. 22 no. 2 (1875), stanzas 1-2,9,16 [ medium voice and piano ], from Quarante mélodies, no. 8, Éd. J. Hamelle ; note: also published as op. 22 no. 3 in 6 Mélodies as reprinted by Durand
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "Aurora catches fire", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Amy Pfrimmer) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 139
Word count: 502
Language: English after the French (Français)
I
Aurora catches fire,
the dense shadows vanish;
the dream and the fumes
go where the night goes;
Eyelids and roses
Open just a bit;
You awaken to things,
You notice sounds.
All is singing and murmur,
All are simultaneously talking,
Smoke and foliage,
Nests and rooftops;
The wind whispers to the oaks,
The water to the fountains;
Gasps for breath
Become voices!
...
III
O world! O all its wonders
Whose vivacious radiance
Makes our ears ring,
Dazzles our eyes!
Shores where the waves come to rest,
Forest cut down by a breath of wind,
Of a blurry horizon
Mysteriously folded!
...
Holy book where the veil
Who drifts everywhere,
Holy book where the star
Who dazzles your eyes,
Leaves no trace, o mystery!
But a single name,
But a name on the earth,
But a name in the heavens.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,9,16 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2006 by Linda Godry, (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:
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This text was added to the website: 2006-12-07
Line count: 139
Word count: 210
