by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
Translation © by Guy Laffaille

Love's philosophy
 (Sung text for setting by L. Lehrman)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
 ... 
Nothing in the world is single;
  All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle.
  Why not I with thine? -
The fountains mingle with the River 
  And the Rivers with the Ocean,
The winds of Heaven mix for ever
  With a sweet emotion;
 ... 
See the mountains kiss high Heaven
  And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
  If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
  And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What are all these kissings worth
  If thou kiss not me?

Note: the text above is taken from lines 5-8,1-4,9-16 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman (b. 1949), "Love's philosophy", op. 32 no. 2 (1979), first performed 1980, lines 5-8,1-4,9-16 [ soprano or tenor (or soprano-tenor duet) and piano ], from Two Shelley songs, no. 2

Text Authorship:

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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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94

Les sources se mêlent avec la rivière
 (Sung text translation for setting by L. Lehrman)
 See original
Language: French (Français)  after the English 
 ... 
Rien au monde n'est seul ;
Toutes les choses par une loi divine
Se mêlent l'une dans l'autre.
Pourquoi pas moi avec toi ?
Les sources se mêlent avec la rivière
Et les rivières avec l'océan,
Les vents du ciel se mélangent pour toujours
Avec une douce émotion ;
 ... 
Regarde les montagnes embrasser le ciel élevé
Et les vagues se serrer l'une l'autre ;
Aucune fleur jumelle ne serait pardonnée
Si elle dédaignait son frère ;
Et le soleil étreint la terre
Et les rayons de la lune embrassent la mer :
Que valent tous ces baisers
Si tu ne m'embrasses pas ?

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from lines 5-8,1-4,9-16 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2009 by Guy Laffaille, (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: 2009-06-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 96