by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
Translation © by Guy Laffaille

A dead violet
 (Sung text for setting by F. Bridge)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
The odour from the flower is gone
Which like thy kisses breathed on me;
The colour from the flower is flown
Which glowed of thee and only thee!

A shrivelled, lifeless, vacant form.
It lies on my abandoned breast,
And mocks my heart which yet is warm,
With cold and silent rest.

I weep, -- my tears revive it not!
I sigh, -- it breathes no more on me;
Its mute and uncomplaining lot
Is such as mine should be.

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Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Language: French (Français)  after the English 
Le parfum de la fleur est parti,
Lui qui comme tes baisers respirait sur moi ;
La couleur de la fleur s'est envolée,
Elle qui brillait de toi et seulement de toi !

Une forme flétrie, sans vie, vide.
Elle gît sur ma poitrine abandonnée,
Et se moque du cœur qui est encore tiède,
Dans un repos froid et silencieux.

Je pleure, -- mes larmes ne la font pas revivre !
Je soupire, -- elle ne respire plus sur moi ;
Son sort muet et sans plainte
Est comme devrait être le mien.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2017 by Guy Laffaille, (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: 2017-05-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 87