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Le soir ramène le silence. Assis sur ces rochers déserts, Je suis dans le vague des airs Le char de la nuit qui s'avance. Vénus se lève à l'horizon ; À mes pieds l'étoile amoureuse. De sa lueur mystérieuse Blanchit les tapis de gazon. ... Tout à coup détaché des cieux, Un rayon de l'astre nocturne, Glissant sur mon front taciturne, Vient mollement toucher mes yeux. Doux reflet d'un globe de flamme, Charmant rayon, que me veux-tu ? Viens-tu dans mon sein abattu Porter la lumière à mon âme ? Descends-tu pour me révéler Des mondes le divin mystère? Ces secrets cachés dans la sphère Où le jour va te rappeler ? ... Viens-tu dévoiler l'avenir Au cœur fatigué qui t'implore ? Rayon divin, es-tu l'aurore Du jour qui ne doit pas finir ?
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6,8 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Louis Niedermeyer (1802 - 1861), "Le soir", stanzas 1-2,4-6,8
Text Authorship:
- by Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine (1790 - 1869), "Le soir", appears in Méditations poétiques
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Jim Reilly) , "Evening", copyright © 2016-2024, (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: 52
Word count: 274
The evening brings back silence. Seated on these deserted rocks I track in the hazy air The advancing chariot of night. Venus rises on the horizon; At my feet the amorous star With its mysterious radiance Turns the lawn’s carpet white. ... Suddenly leaving the heavens, A ray from the nocturnal star Glides upon my solemn brow And arrives to gently touch my eyes. Gentle reflection of that globe of flame, Charming ray, what do you want of me? Do you come to my battered breast To bring light to my soul? Do you descend to reveal to me The divine mystery of worlds? These secrets hidden in the sphere Where day goes to call you forth? ... Do you come to unveil the future To the tired heart which pleads with you? Divine ray, are you the dawn of the day which will not end?
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6,8 of the original text.
Note: updated March 18, 2024.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016-2024 by Jim Reilly, (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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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine (1790 - 1869), "Le soir", appears in Méditations poétiques
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This text was added to the website: 2016-10-26
Line count: 52
Word count: 306