by
Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
Doncques pour trop aymer il faut que je...
Language: French (Français)
Doncques pour trop aymer il faut que je trespasse,
La mort de mon amour sera donc le loyer,
L’homme est bien malheureux qui se veut emploier
En servant meriter d’une ingratte la grace :
Mais je te pry, dy moy, que veux-tu que je face ?
Quelle preuve veux-tu afin de te ployer ?
Las ! cruelle, veux-tu que je m’aille noyer ?
Ou que de ma main propre (helas) je me deface ?
Es-tu quelque Busire, ou Cacus inhumain,
Pour te souler ainsi du pauvre sang humain ?
Fiere, ne crains-tu point Nemesis la Déesse
Qui te demandera mon sang versé à tort ?
Ne crains-tu point des Sœurs la troupe vengeresse
Qui puniront là-bas ton crime apres la mort ?
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
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 page: David Wyatt
This text was added to the website: 2014-10-27
Line count: 14
Word count: 114
So, from loving too much I must die
Language: English after the French (Français)
So, from loving too much I must die;
The death of my love will be, then, the down-payment.
That man is truly unfortunate who wishes to be employed
As a servant to deserve thanks from an ungrateful woman;
But I ask you, tell me what you want me to do?
What proof do you want to make you yield?
Alas, cruel one, do you want me to drown myself?
Or with my own hand (alas) to destroy myself?
Are you some Busiris or inhuman Cacus
To glut yourself thus on poor human blood?
Proud one, do you not fear Nemesis, the goddess
Who will want recompense from you for my blood, wrongfully spilled?
Do you not fear the Sisters of the avenging band
Who will punish your crime down below after death?
About the headline (FAQ)
Translator's note for stanza 4, line 2 ("Sisters of the avenging band"): i.e., the Furies
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:
This text was added to the website: 2014-10-27
Line count: 14
Word count: 132