by Albert Victor Samain (1858 - 1900)
Translation Singable translation by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913)

Il pleut des pétales de fleurs
Language: French (Français) 
Il pleut des pétales de fleurs,
La flamme se courbe au vent tiède,
De mes deux yeux je te possède
Et mes yeux ont besoin de pleurs.

Vieille argile, faite aux douleurs,
Quel goût de souffrir sans remède
Harcèle ainsi le cœur qui cède!
Il pleut des pétales de fleurs.

Les roses meurent chaque et toutes,
Je ne dis rien, et tu m'écoutes;
Sous tes immobiles cheveux.

L'amour est lourd, mon âme est lasse:
Quelle est donc, Chère, sur nous deux
Cette aile en silence qui passe?1

About the headline (FAQ)

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The text first appeared in the revue Au Mercure de France, August 1890, and later in Au Jardin de L'Infante, Paris, Éd. du Mercure de France, 1893.

1 Hadley adds "Il pleut des pétales de fleurs."

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-12-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 88

The rose‑leaves are falling like rain
 (Sung text for setting by H. Hadley)
 Matches base text
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
The rose-leaves are falling like rain,
The candle-flame dips to the air,
And my two eyes possess thee there,
Yet the tears they can scarce restrain.

Ancient clay, refashioned to pain,
What thirst of incurable ainguish
Must torture thus our hearts that languish!
The rose-leaves are falling like rain.

The flow'rs are dying all!
Ah, dearest, I do not speak, and yet thou hearest,
And under thy motionless hair
Thy love is dull, I tire of loving:
What can it be, dear one, o'er us two,
This wing that in silence is moving?
The rose-leaves are falling like rain.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-12-29
Line count: 15
Word count: 99