by (Bernard Marie) Jules, le comte de Rességuier (1788 - 1862)
Translation Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Le secret
Language: English
Dis-moi de quel secret ta harpe solitaire T'entretient au déclin du jour? Dis-moi si de ton cœur révélant le mystère, Elle exhale un soupir d'amour ? Si ta pensée intime en ton âme éveillée, Te dit de craindre ou d'espérer ; Si tu sens, sous tes doigts, une corde mouillée, Et si tu chantes pour pleurer ? Dis-moi si d'un accord, d'une note plus tendre, Ton cœur se trouble quelquefois ; Si la voix d'un absent soudain se fait entendre ; Si tu réponds à cette voix? Mais non; non, ne dis rien ; chante, soupire, pleure Cache le secret de ton cœur; Si tu le dis jamais... il faudra que je meure, -- De désespoir ou de bonheur.
Authorship:
- by (Bernard Marie) Jules, le comte de Rességuier (1788 - 1862), "Le secret", appears in Tableaux poétiques, Paris, Urbain Canel, first published 1834 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ernestine de Bauduin (1852 - 1906), "Le secret", op. 27, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Cranz [sung text not yet checked]
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "Le secret", op. 14 (Four Songs) no. 2 (1890?), published 1891 [ voice and piano ], also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-09-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 118
The secret
Language: English  after the English
Tell me, what is the secret thy harp, sole companion, In the twilight confides to thee? Tell me if, from thy heart, its depths revealing, Comes a sigh of love for me? If thy inmost thought, thy awakened soul, Doth fear or hope, courage keeping, If the strings, neath thy hand, are moistened with tears, And if thou singest while weeping? Tell me if, at a chord, or a note soft and tender, Thy gentle heart is grieving; If the voice of an absent one doth murmur fondly, If thou respondest, believing? But no, naught to me say, but sigh, and sing while weeping, keep thy secret from me. If thou to me dost tell... loving thee must I die Of despair or of rapture, sweet, for thee.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by (Bernard Marie) Jules, le comte de Rességuier (1788 - 1862), "Le secret", appears in Tableaux poétiques, Paris, Urbain Canel, first published 1834
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "The secret", op. 14 (Four Songs) no. 2 (1890?), published 1891 [ voice and piano ], also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 128