by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
Translation © by Amy Pfrimmer

Vieille chanson du jeune temps
 (Sung text for setting by F. d'Erlanger)
 See original
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG
Je ne songeais pas à Rose ;
Rose au bois vint avec moi ;
Nous parlions de quelque chose,
Mais je ne sais plus de quoi.

 ... 

Une eau courait, fraîche et creuse,
Sur les mousses de velours ;
Et la nature amoureuse
Dormait dans les grands bois sourds.

Rose défit sa chaussure,
Et mit, d'un air ingénu,
Son petit pied dans l'eau pure ;
Je ne vis pas son pied nu.

Je ne savais que lui dire ;
Je la suivais dans les bois,
La voyant parfois sourire
Et soupirer quelquefois.

Je ne vis qu'elle était belle
Qu'en sortant des grands bois sourds.
« Soit, n'y pensons plus !» dit-elle.
Depuis j'y pense toujours.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6-9 of the original text.

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

  • 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: 36
Word count: 192

Language: English  after the French (Français) 
I was not thinking of Rose; 
Rose came with me into the woods;
We were talking about something, 
but I do not know what.

 ... 

A stream ran, cool and hollow, 
on velvet moss;
And amorous nature slept 
in the great silent woods.

Rose unfastened her shoe, 
and put, with a simple air,
Her little foot in the pure water; 
I did not see her bare foot.

I did not know what to say to her; 
I followed her in the woods,
She smiled from time to time 
and sometimes sighed.

I only saw that she was beautiful only 
when leaving the great silent forest.
"So, let us not think about it anymore!" she said. 
Since then, I always think about it.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6-9 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 by Amy Pfrimmer, (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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This text was added to the website: 2023-06-05
Line count: 36
Word count: 213