by
Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
Quand j’apperçoy ton beau chef jaunissant
Language: French (Français)
Quand j’apperçoy ton beau chef jaunissant,
Qui la blondeur des filets d’or efface,
Et ton bel œil qui les astres surpasse,
Et ton tetin comme œillet rougissant,
A front baissé je pleure, gémissant
De quoi je suis (faute digne de grace)
Sous l’humble voix de ma rime si basse,
De tes beautés les honneurs trahissant.
Je connois bien que je devrois me taire
Ou mieux parler : mais l’amoureux ulcère
Qui m’ard le cœur me force de chanter.
Doncque, mon tout, si dignement je n’use
L’encre et la voix à tes graces vanter,
Non l’ouvrier, non, mais son destin, accuse.
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, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , title unknown, copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: David Wyatt
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-06
Line count: 14
Word count: 99
When I see your fair golden hair
Language: English after the French (Français)
When I see your fair golden hair
Which eclipses the colour of golden tiaras,
And your fair eye which surpasses the stars,
And your breast reddening like a carnation,
With lowered brow I weep, groaning
That I am (though it’s a failing worthy of forgiveness)
Betraying in the humble words of my poor poetry
The honour due to your beauties.
I fully understand that I should be quiet
Or speak better; but the ulcer of love
Which burns my heart forces me to sing.
So, my All, if I do not worthily use
My ink and my voice to laud your graces,
Accuse not the workman, no, but his fate.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 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: 2015-06-06
Line count: 14
Word count: 110