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'Twas ev'n -- the dewy fields were green,
On every blade the pearls hang;
The zephyr wanton'd round the bean,
And bore its fragrant sweets alang;
In ev'ry glen the mavis sang,
All nature list'ning seem'd the while,
Except where green-wood echoes rang
Among the braes of Ballochmyle.
With careless step I onward stray'd,
My heart rejoic'd in nature's joy,
When musing in a lonely glade,
A maiden fair I chanc'd to spy;
Her look was like the morning's eye,
Her air like nature's vernal smile;
The lily's hue and rose's dye
Bespoke the lass o' Ballochmyle.
Fair is the morn in flow'ry May,
And sweet is night in autumn mild,
When roving through the garden gay,
Or wand'ring in the lonely wild:
But woman, nature's darling child!
There all her charms she does compile;
Even there her other works are foil'd
By the bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.
O had she been a country maid,
And I the happy country swain,
Tho' shelter'd in the lowest shed
That ever rose on Scotland's plain!
Thro' weary winter's wind and rain
With joy, with rapture, I would toil;
And nightly to my bosom strain
The bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.
...
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Johnie's grey breeks", JHW XXXII/3 no. 177, Hob. XXXIa no. 154, stanzas 1-4
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The lass of Ballochmyle", title 2: "Johnie's grey breeks"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Dívka z Ballochmyle"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-12-29
Line count: 40
Word count: 251
C'était le soir, les champs couverts de rosée étaient verts,
Des perles coulaient sur chaque feuille,
Le zéphyr folâtrait dans les fèves
Et transportait leur parfum odoriférant,
Dans chaque vallée chantait la grive,
Tandis que toute la nature semblait écouter,
Sauf là où les échos du pic vert retentissaient
Dans les bois de Ballochmyle.
J'avançais d'un pas nonchalant,
Le cœur réjoui par la joie de la nature,
Quand, méditant dans une clairière retirée,
Je vis par hasard une jolie fille,
Son regard ressemblait à celui du matin,
Elle avait le sourire de la nature au printemps,
Un teint de lis et une nuance de rose
Distinguaient la fille de Ballochmyle.
Le matin est beau au mois de mai en fleurs,
Et la nuit est suave dans le doux automne,
Quand on erre dans un joyeux jardin
Ou que l'on vagabonde dans la nature solitaire ;
Mais une femme, enfant chéri de la nature !
Y ajoute tous ses charmes !
Même ici ses autres œuvres sont vaincues
Par la jolie fille de Ballocmyle.
Ô si elle était une fille de la campagne,
Et moi un joyeux paysan,
Habitant même le plus humble abri
Qui ne fut jamais élevé dans la plaine d'Écosse !
Sous le vent et la pluie de l'épuisant hiver
Je besognerais avec joie et ravissement,
Et la nuit serrerais sur mon cœur
La jolie fille de Ballochmyle.
...
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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The lass of Ballochmyle", title 2: "Johnie's grey breeks"
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This text was added to the website: 2014-09-22
Line count: 40
Word count: 283