Isn't it so? We shall go, happy yet slow

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by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)

Translation © by Shawn Thuris

N'est‑ce pas ?

(Sung text for setting by G. Fauré)

See base text

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: CAT ENG

 ... 

N'est-ce pas? nous irons gais et lents, dans la voie
Modeste que nous montre en souriant l'Espoir,
Peu soucieux qu'on nous ignore ou qu'on nous voie.

Isolés dans l'amour ainsi qu'en un bois noir,
Nos deux coeurs, exhalant leur tendresse paisible,
Seront deux rossignols qui chantent dans le soir.

 ... 

Sans nous préoccuper de ce que nous destine
Le Sort, nous marcherons pourtant du même pas,
Et la main dans la main, avec l'âme enfantine.

De ceux qui s'aiment sans mélange, n'est-ce pas?

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2,3,6,7 of the original text.

Composition:

Gabriel Fauré

La bonne chanson

Text Authorship:

by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in La bonne chanson, no. 17, first published 1870

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Shawn Thuris) , copyright © 2015, (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: 19
Word count: 156

Isn't it so?

(Sung text translation for setting by G. Fauré)

See original

Language: English after the French (Français)

 ... 

Isn't it so? We shall go, happy yet slow,
Along the modest path we walk in smiling hope,
Caring little if others notice or ignore us.

Isolated in love as though in a dark wood,
Our two hearts, exhaling their peaceful fondness,
Shall be two nightingales singing in the night.

 ... 

Without worrying ourselves about what
Fate holds in store, we walk still the same way,
Hand in hand, with the childlike soul

Of those who love completely — isn't it so?

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2,3,6,7 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 by Shawn Thuris, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in La bonne chanson, no. 17, first published 1870
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This text was added to the website: 2015-01-20
Line count: 19
Word count: 82