by Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786 - 1859)
Translation © by Michael P Rosewall

Berceuse sur un vieil air
 (Sung text for setting by G. Bizet)
 See original
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG ENG
  Si l'enfant sommeille,
  Il verra l'abeille,
Quand elle aura fait son miel,
Danser entre terre et ciel.

  Si l'enfant repose,
  Un ange tout rose,
Que la nuit seule on peut voir,
Viendra lui dire : "Bonsoir !"

 ... 

  Si mon enfant m'aime,
  Dieu dira lui-même :
"J'aime cet enfant qui dort ;
Qu'on lui porte un rêve d'or !

 ... 

  "Mettez-lui des ailes
  Comme aux tourterelles,
Pour venir dans mon soleil
Danser jusqu'à son réveil !

  "Fermez ses paupières,
  Et sur ses prières,
De mes jardins pleins de fleurs,
Faites glisser les couleurs.

 ... 

  "Mais je veux qu'il dorme
  Et qu'il se conforme
Au silence des oiseaux
Couchés parmi les roseaux !

  "Car si l'enfant pleure,
  On entendra l'heure
Tinter partout qu'un enfant
A fait ce que Dieu défend !

  "L'écho de la rue
  Au bruit accourue,
Quand l'heure aura soupiré,
Dira : "L'enfant a pleuré !"

  "Et sa tendre mère,
  Dans sa nuit amère,
Pour son ingrat nourrisson
Ne saura plus de chanson !

  Si l'enfant est sage,
  Sur son doux visage
La Vierge se penchera,
Et longtemps lui parlera.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4,7,5,12-15,3 of the original text.

Note: the poem was first published in Le musée des familles, August 1835.

Notes
Stanza 7, line 2: in the Doré score there is a typo: it has "aux tourterelle" instead of "aux tourterelles".
Stanza 12, line 4: in the Doré score there is a typo: it has "leurs maison" instead of "leurs maisons"

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English (Ahmed E. Ismail) , "Cradle song after an old air", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 76
Word count: 328

Language: English  after the French (Français) 
1 If my babe will sleep for me, 
He will see a busy bee
Making honey, flying high,
Dancing twixt the earth and sky.

2 If my babe will go to bed,
Then an angel dressed in red
You’ll see when I douse the light;
He’ll peek out and say: “Good night!”

 ... 

7 He will rise on wings,
Like the dove that sings,
High enough to reach the sun
And dance ‘til the night is done.

 ... 

13 No more crying, not one tear,
Or the clock chime you will hear,
Ringing when a child is bad
Or does things to make God sad.

5 Close your eyes and have no cares,
Fold your hands and say your prayers.
Let my gardens, colored bright,
Beckon you to slumber tonight.

 ... 

 ... 

 ... 

 ... 

4 If you love me, pray,
God himself will say:
When this child does what he’s told,
I’ll bring him a dream of gold.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4,7,5,12-15,3 of the original text.

Note: this is a translation of Bizet's version.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2024 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2024-05-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 239