by François Coppée (1842 - 1908)
Translation by Horace Smith
A lay of the early spring
Language: English after the French (Français)
A lay of the early spring, Maiden fair, to thee I sing. While each bird its mate is calling, And as gentle breezes blow, Countless flakes of blossom snow From the orchard trees are falling. Bird and blossom, maiden sweet, Teach that lovers true should meet When all Nature thus rejoices. Come then, dearest, to the vale Where the thrush and nightingale In sweet concert raise their voices, For when fickle spring departs, Summer warmth shall fill our hearts With a love and faith unbroken.
Text Authorship:
- by Horace Smith [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by François Coppée (1842 - 1908), no title, appears in Le Passant, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1870
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles Gounod (1818 - 1893), "A lay of the early spring", CG. 357, first performed 1872. [voice and piano], also set in French (Français) [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-08
Line count: 15
Word count: 85