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Dans ses langes blancs, fraîchement cousus, La Vierge berçait son Enfant-Jésus. Lui, gazouillait comme un nid de mésanges. Elle le berçait en chantant tout bas Ce que nous chantons à nos petits anges... Mais l'Enfant-Jésus ne s'endormait pas. ... » Doux Jésus, lui dit la mère en tremblant, » Dormez, mon agneau, mon bel agneau blanc. » Dormez; il est tard, la lampe est éteinte. » Votre front est rouge et vos membres las ; » Dormez, mon amour, et dormez sans crainte. « Mais l'Enfant-Jésus ne s'endormait pas. ... Et Marie alors, le regard voilé, Pencha sur son fils un front désolé, » Vous ne dormez pas, votre mère pleure, » Votre mère pleure, ô mon bel ami... « Des larmes coulaient de ses yeux ; sur l'heure, Le petit Jésus s'était endormi.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by César Franck (1822 - 1890), "La Vierge à la crèche", FWV 89 no. 3, CFF 165 no. 3 (1888), published 1923, stanzas 1,3,6 [ vocal duet (or chorus) and piano ], from 6 Duos pour voix égales, no. 3, Paris, Éd. Enoch
Score: IMSLP [external link]
Text Authorship:
- by Alphonse Daudet (1840 - 1897), "La Vierge à la crèche", written 1858, appears in Les amoureuses, poèmes et fantaisies, no. 3, Nouvelle édition, Paris, G. Charpentier, first published 1876
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "The Virgin at the Manger", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-26
Line count: 36
Word count: 272
The Virgin was rocking the Baby Jesus, in his white swaddling-clothes, newly sewn. He was chirping like a nest of newborn chicks. She rocked him and very softly sang the song we sing to our little angels... But the child Jesus did not go to sleep. ... "Sweet Jesus," said the mother, trembling, "Sleep, my lamb, my beautiful white lamb. Sleep, it is late, the lamp has gone out. Your forehead is red and your limbs are weary. Sleep, my love, and sleep without fear." But the child Jesus did not go to sleep. ... And Mary then, her gaze veiled, leant her sorrowful forehead over her son: "You do not sleep, your mother weeps, she weeps, oh my beautiful friend..." Tears flowed from her eyes; and in no time little Jesus had fallen asleep.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 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.
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Alphonse Daudet (1840 - 1897), "La Vierge à la crèche", written 1858, appears in Les amoureuses, poèmes et fantaisies, no. 3, Nouvelle édition, Paris, G. Charpentier, first published 1876
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This text was added to the website: 2023-05-10
Line count: 36
Word count: 277