by François Coppée (1842 - 1908)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Obstination
 (Sung text for setting by H. Gilles de Fontenailles)
 See original
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG
Vous aurez beau faire et beau dire,
L'oubli me serait odieux ;
Et je vois toujours son sourire
  Des adieux.

 ... 

Vous aurez beau faire et beau dire
Dût-elle même l'ignorer,
Je veux, fidèle à mon martyre,
  La pleurer.

Vous aurez beau dire et beau faire,
Seule, elle peut mon mal guérir ;
Et j'aime mieux, s'il persévère,
  En mourir.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

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

  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Obstinacy", copyright © 2012


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2012-11-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 82

Language: English  after the French (Français) 
Whatever you do or say,
Forgetting would be odious to me;
And I always see her smile
of farewell.

 ... 

Whatever you do or say,
Would she even ignore it?
I want to be true to my martyrdom
and weep for her.

Whatever you do or say,
Only she can heal my pain,
And I would prefer if it persevered 
Unto death.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website: 2012-11-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 80