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Petit enfant, quel que soit, fille ou fils, Parfais le temps de tes neufs mois préfix. Puis en ce monde en grande lumière, Viens sans donner détresse coutumière A la mère humble en qui Dieu t'a fait naitre, Puis d'un doux ris commence à la connaître. Après que fait lui auras connaissance, Prends peu à peu nourriture et croissance, Tant qu'à demi commences à parler Et tout seulet en trépignant aller Sur les carreaux de ta maison prospère, Au passe temps de ta mère et ton père. Qui de t'y voir un de ces jours prétendent Avec ton frère et ta sœur qui t’attendent Viens voir de terre et de mer le grand tour Avec le ciel qui se courbe à l'entour, Viens voir, viens voir mainte belle ornature Que chacun d'eux a reçu de nature; Je te dirais encor cent mille choses Qui sont en terre autour du ciel encloses, Belles à l'œil et douce à penser, Mais j'aurais peur de ta mère offenser Et que d'y voir et d'y penser tu prinses1 Si grand désir qu'avant le terme vinses! Par quoi (enfant) quel que soit fille ou fils, Parfais le temps de tes neuf mois préfix!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 [sic]. Grammatically this should be "prises".
Authorship:
- by Clément Marot (1496 - 1544), "Avant naissance du troiziesme enfant de Madame, Madame la Duchesse de Ferrare", written 1535, appears in Chants divers, no. 1 [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 Jean Françaix (1912 - 1997), "Avant naissance", 1942, published 1948 [ medium voice and piano ], from L'adolescence Clémentine, no. 5, Éd. Max Eschig [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-04-15
Line count: 26
Word count: 198
Tiny infant, whichever you are, daughter or son, Perfect the time you have during your predetermined nine months. Then into this world, into great light, Come without giving the customary distress To the humble mother in whom God made you to be born, Then with a sweet laugh begin to get to know her. After that, you will have met her, Take, bit by bit, nourishment and grow So that at six months you start talking And totally alone, toddling, go On the tiles of your prosperous home, To pass time for your mother and father. Who aspire to see you on of these days Awaited by your brother and sister Come see the earth and sea: the grand tour With the sky curving around you, Come see, come see [the] many fine ornaments That each has received from nature; I’d like to tell you 100,000 things Which on earth are enclosed by the sky, Beautiful to the eye and sweet to the mind, But I’d be afraid to offend your mother Becasue if you see that, and think of it, you’ll seize on Such a strong desire, that you’ll come before your term is up! Therefore (infant) whether you’re a daughter or son, Perfect this time of your predetermined nine months!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Avant naissance" = "Before birth"Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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 Clément Marot (1496 - 1544), "Avant naissance du troiziesme enfant de Madame, Madame la Duchesse de Ferrare", written 1535, appears in Chants divers, no. 1
This text was added to the website: 2016-04-15
Line count: 26
Word count: 212