I am jealous, Psyche, of all of nature

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by Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684)

Translation © by Peter Low

Psyché

(Sung text for setting by C. Koechlin)

See original

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG

Je suis jaloux, Psyché, de toute la nature:
Les rayons du soleil vous baisent trop souvent;
Vos cheveux souffrent trop les caresses du vent:
Dès qu'il les flatte, j'en murmure;
L'air même que vous respirez
Avec trop de plaisir passe sur votre bouche;
Votre habit de trop près vous touche;
Et sitôt que vous soupirez,
Je ne sais quoi qui m'effarouche
Craint parmi vos soupirs des soupirs égarés.
 ...

Note: the text above is taken from lines 1-10 of the original text.

Composition:

Charles Koechlin

Text Authorship:

by Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), no title, written 1671, appears in Psyché, Act II, Scene 3

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Peter Low) , copyright © 2025, (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: 23
Word count: 154

Psyché

(Sung text translation for setting by C. Koechlin)

See original

Language: English after the French (Français)

I am jealous, Psyche, of all of nature:
the sun's rays kiss you too frequently;
your hair too often feels the wind's caresses:
they flatter it, and then I complain;
the very air that you breathe
too much enjoys moving past your mouth;
your garments touch your body too close;
and whenever you sigh,
I feel something that scares me
and fear that some sighs may go elsewhere.
 ...

Note: the text above is taken from lines 1-10 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Peter Low, (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 Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), no title, written 1671, appears in Psyché, Act II, Scene 3
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This text was added to the website: 2025-05-19
Line count: 23
Word count: 153