by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation © by Pierre Mathé

Green sleeves
 (Sung text for setting by J. Haydn)
 See original
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
Our translations:  FRE
 ... 

Chorus:
  O lovely was she by the dawn,
    The sweetly smiling charming Anne,
  When tripping o'er the pearly lawn,
    The youthful, charming Anne.

The feather'd people you might see
Perch'd all around on every tree,
In notes of sweetest melody
  They hail the charming Anne;
Till, painting gay the eastern skies,
The glorious sun began to rise,
Outrival'd by the radiant eyes
  Of youthful, charming Anne.
     O lovely was she, &c.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-3 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Green sleeves", JHW. XXXII/3 no. 262, Hob. XXXIa no. 112b, stanzas 2-3, note: the sung text begins 'O lovely was she by the dawn'

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The charming month of May", written 1794

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


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-04-02
Line count: 22
Word count: 126

C'était au charmant mois de mai
 (Sung text translation for setting by J. Haydn)
 See original
Language: French (Français)  after the Scottish (Scots) 
 ... 

Refrain
Ô qu'elle était mignonne à l'aube,
  La charmante Anne souriant doucement,
Sautillant sur la prairie emperlée,
  La jeune, charmante Chloe !

On pouvait voir la gente ailée
Perchée autour, sur chaque arbre !
Avec les notes de la plus douce mélodie
  Elle célébrait la charmante Chloe,
Jusqu'à ce que, peignant gaiement le ciel de l'est,
Le soleil glorieux commençait à se lever,
Surpassé par les yeux rayonnants
  De la jeune, charmante Chloe.
    Elle était mignonne...

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-3 of the original text.

Title: "The charming month of May = "Le charmant mois"
J. Haydn mit en musique la strophe 2 (encadrée par le refrain)
Sur l'air de : Daintie Davie

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Scottish (Scots) to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Pierre Mathé, (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:

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This text was added to the website: 2014-08-20
Line count: 22
Word count: 124