by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
Translation by Lev Aleksandrovich Mey (1822 - 1862)

Comment, disaient‑ils
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  CAT CHI ENG ENG
Comment, disaient-ils,
Avec nos nacelles,
Fuir les alguazils ?
-- Ramez, disaient-elles.

Comment, disaient-ils,
Oublier querelles,
Misère et périls ?
-- Dormez, disaient-elles.

Comment, disaient-ils,
Enchanter les belles
Sans philtres subtils ?
-- Aimez, disaient-elles.

J. Bordier sets stanzas 1, 3, 2

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Oeuvres de Victor Hugo: Les rayons et les ombres, Volume 4, Paris, V. A. Houssiaux, ed., Hébert et Cie, 1875, pages 325-326.


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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • CHI Chinese (中文) (Yen-Chiang Che) , "“怎麼辦?” 他們問", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Faith J. Cormier) , "How then, asked he", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Faith J. Cormier) , "How, asked the men", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , ""O how," murmured he"
  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] ((Johann) Philipp Kaufmann)


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 29

Language: Russian (Русский)  after the French (Français) 
Our translations:  FRE
Спросили они:  ,,Как в летучих челнах
Нам белою чайкой скользить на волнах,
Чтоб нас сторожа недогнали?``
,,Гребите!`` они отвечали.

Спросили они: ,,Как забыть, навсегда,
Что в мире юдольном есть бедность, беда,
Что есть в нём гроза и печали?``
,,Засните!`` они отвечали.

Спросили они: ,,Как красавиц привлечь
Без чары: чтоб сами на страстную речь
Они нам в объятия пали?``
,,Любите!`` они отвечали.

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 61