by John Keats (1795 - 1821)
Translation Jean-Pierre Granger
What is more gentle than a wind in summer? See original
Language: English
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... 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 general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 140