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N'est-ce pas? en dépit des sots et des méchants Qui ne manqueront pas d'envier notre joie, Nous serons fiers parfois, et toujours indulgents. N'est-ce pas? nous irons gais et lents, dans la voie Modeste que nous montre en souriant l'Espoir, Peu soucieux qu'on nous ignore ou qu'on nous voie. Isolés dans l'amour ainsi qu'en un bois noir, Nos deux coeurs, exhalant leur tendresse paisible, Seront deux rossignols qui chantent dans le soir. Quant au monde, qu'il soit envers nous irascible Ou doux que nous feront ses gentes? Il peut bien, S'il veut, nous caresser ou nous prendre pour cible. Unis par le plus fort et le plus cher lien, Et d'ailleurs, possédant l'armure adamantine, Nous sourirons à tout et n'aurons peur de rien. Sans nous préoccuper de ce que nous destine Le Sort, nous marcherons pourtant du même pas, Et la main dans la main, avec l'âme enfantine. De ceux qui s'aiment sans mélange, n'est-ce pas?
G. Fauré sets stanzas 2, 3, 6, 7
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in La bonne chanson, no. 17, first published 1870 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924), "N'est-ce pas ?", op. 61 no. 8, published 1892-3, stanzas 2,3,6,7 [ voice and piano ], from La bonne chanson, no. 8, Paris, Hamelle [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Raoul Koczalski (1884 - 1948), "N'est-ce pas? en dépit des sots et des méchants", op. 69 no. 10 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Nous irons gais et lents", op. 24 no. 3 (1901-2), published 1901-2 [ voice and piano ], from Cinq poèmes de La bonne chanson, no. 3, Paris, L. Philippo [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Lucien Mawet (1875 - 1947), "N'est-ce pas?", published 1921 [ voice and piano ], from La bonne chanson, no. 3, Bruxelles, L. Mawet [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernest Willem Mulder (1898 - 1959), "N'est-ce pas?", 1936, published 1936 [ voice and piano ], from La bonne chanson, no. 6, Amsterdam, Donemus [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Shawn Thuris) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 19
Word count: 156
[... ... ...] Isn't it so? We shall go, happy yet slow, Along the modest path we walk in smiling hope, Caring little if others notice or ignore us. Isolated in love as though in a dark wood, Our two hearts, exhaling their peaceful fondness, Shall be two nightingales singing in the night. [... ... ...] [... ... ...] Without worrying ourselves about what Fate holds in store, we walk still the same way, Hand in hand, with the childlike soul Of those who love completely — isn't it so?
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "N'est-ce pas ?" = "Isn't it so?"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 by Shawn Thuris, (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 Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in La bonne chanson, no. 17, first published 1870
This text was added to the website: 2015-01-20
Line count: 19
Word count: 81