Que dis tu, que fais tu, pensive
Language: French (Français) after the French (Français)
Que dis tu, que fais tu, pensive,
Dessus cest' arbre sec? Las, passant je lamente.
Hé pourquoy, di le moy? De ma compaingne absente,
Plus chiere que ma vie. En quelle part est elle?
Un cruel oyseleur, par glueuse cautelle
L'a prinse, et l'a tueé: je chante
Son trespas, nommant la mort mechante
Qu'elle ne m'a tuée avecques ma fidelle.
Voudrois tu bien mourir avecques ta compaingne?
Ouy, car aussi bien je languis en douleur,
Et tousjours le regretz de sa mort m'accompaingne.
O gentils oyselets,
Qu'heureux est vostre coeur
Qui, sans point varier, est tousjours amoureux.
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It is based on
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 14
Word count: 97
What are you saying and doing, pensive...
Language: English after the French (Français)
What are you saying and doing, pensive one,
Under this dry tree? Alas, traveller, I lament.
But why, tell me? For my absent love,
Dearer than my life. And where's your love?
A cruel birdcatcher with sticky snare
Took and killed her, I sing
Of her fate, calling death unfair
Who didn't kill me with my love.
But would you truly die with your companion?
Yes, for even so I languish here in sadness
And regret for her death always accompanies me.
O pretty birds,
How fortunate your hearts
Which, unchanged in any way, are still in love.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2014 by David Wyatt, (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:
- a text in French (Français) by Not Applicable , first published 1557-8 [an adaptation]
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-14
Line count: 14
Word count: 98