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by John Keats (1795 - 1821)
Translation Jean-Pierre Granger

What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
 (Sung text for setting by B. Britten)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  CAT FRE
What is more gentle than a wind in summer? 
What is more soothing than the pretty hummer 
That stays one moment in an open flower, 
And buzzes cheerily from bower to bower? 
What is more tranquil than a musk-rose blowing 
In a green island, far from all men’s knowing? 
More healthful than the leafiness of dales? 
More secret than a nest of nightingales? 
More serene than Cordelia’s countenance? 
More full of visions than a high romance? 
What, but thee Sleep? Soft closer of our eyes! 
Low murmurer of tender lullabies! 
Light hoverer around our happy pillows! 
Wreather of poppy buds, and weeping willows! 
Silent entangler of a beauty’s tresses! 
Most happy listener! when the morning blesses 
Thee for enlivening all the cheerful eyes 
That glance so brightly at the new sun-rise. 

 ... 

Note: the text above is taken from stanza 1 of the original text.

The poem is headed by a quote from Chaucer:
«As I lay in my bed slepe full unmete 
Was unto me, but why that I ne might 
Rest I ne wist, for there n’as erthly wight 
[As I suppose] had more of hertis ese 
Than I, for I n’ad sicknesse nor disese.»

Composition:

    Set to music by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "What is more gentle than a wind in summer?", op. 60 no. 7, published 1959, stanza 1 [ tenor, flute, clarinet, orchestra ], from Nocturne for tenor solo, seven obligato instruments and string orchestra, no. 7

Text Authorship:

  • by John Keats (1795 - 1821), "Sleep and Poetry"

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Què és més suau que l’oreig a l’estiu?", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Jean-Pierre Granger)


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2016-07-10
Line count: 408
Word count: 3087

Qu'est‑il de plus suave qu'une brise...
 (Sung text translation for setting by B. Britten)
 See original
Language: French (Français)  after the English 
Qu'est-il de plus suave qu'une brise d'été ?
Qu'est-il de plus apaisant que le joli colibri
Qui s'attarde un moment auprès d'une fleur éclose,
Et bourdonne gaiement de charmilles en charmilles ?
Qu'est-il de plus paisible qu'une rose musquée ouverte
sur une île verte, loin de tout entendement humain ?
De plus vivifiant que les vallons aux feuillages abondant ?
De plus caché que le nid des rossignols ?
De plus serein de les traits de Cordelia ?
De plus poétique qu'une passion ardente ?
Sinon toi, Sommeil ? Qui ferme doucement nos yeux !
Qui murmure de tendres berceuses !
Qui plane légèrement autour de nos oreillers bienheureux !
Qui tresse le bourgeon du coquelicot et les saules pleureurs !
Qui emmêle silencieusement les tresses d'une belle !
Toi l'heureux spectateur ! Lorsque le matin te béni 
De raviver tous les yeux joyeux
Qui portent leur regard sur un nouveau lever du soleil.

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from stanza 1 of the original text.

The translator has released this translation into the public domain.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) by Jean-Pierre Granger

Based on:

  • a text in English by John Keats (1795 - 1821), "Sleep and Poetry"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-10-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 140

Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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