Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Sara, belle d'indolence, Se balance, Dans un hamac, au-dessus Du bassin d'une fontaine Toute pleine D'eau puisée à l'Ilyssus. Et la frêle escarpolette Se reflète Dans le transparent miroir, Avec la baigneuse blanche Qui se penche, Qui se penche pour se voir. Chaque fois que la nacelle Qui chancelle, Passe à fleur d'eau dans son vol, On voit sur l'eau qui s'agite Sortir vite Son beau pied er son beau col. Elle bat d'un pied timide L'onde humide Qui ride son clair tableau; Du beau pied rougit l'albâtre; La folâtre Rit de la fraîcheur de l'eau. Reste ici caché: demeure! Dans une heure, D'un oeil ardent tu verras Sortir du bain l'ingénue Toute nue, Croisant ses mains sur ses bras! Car c'est un astre qui brille, Qu'une fille Qui sort du bain au flot clair, Cherche s'il ne vient personne, Et frissonne, Toute mouillée au grand air! Elle est là, sous la feuillée, Eveillée Au moindre bruit de malheur; Et rouge, pour une mouche Qui la touche, Comme une grenade en fleur. On voit tout ce que dérobe Voile ou robe; Dans ses yeux d'azur en feu, Son regard que rien ne voile Est l'étoile Qui brille au fond d'un ciel bleu. L'eau sur son corps qu'elle essuie Roule en pluie, Comme sur un peuplier; Comme si, gouttes à gouttes, Tombaient toutes Les perles de son collier. Mais Sara la nonchalante Est bien lente A finir ses doux ébats; Toujours elle se balance En silence, Et va murmurant tout bas: "Oh! si j'étais capitane Ou sultane, Je prendrais des bains ambrés Dans un bain de marbre jaune, Près d'un trône, Entre deux griffons dorés! "J'aurais le hamac de soie Qui se ploie Sous le corps prét à se pâmer; J'aurais la molle ottomane Dont émane Un parfum qui fait aimer. "Je pourrais folâtrer nue, Sous la nue. Dans le ruisseau du jardin, Sans craindre de voir dans l'ombre Du bois sombre Deux yeux s'allumer soudain. "Il faudrait risquer sa tète Inquiète, Et tout braver pour me voir, Le sabre nu de l'heiduque, Et l'eunuque Aux dents blanches, au front noir! "Puis, je pourrais sans qu'on presse Ma paresse, Laisser avec mes habits Traîner sur les larges dalles Mes sandales De drap brodé de rubis." Ainsi se parle en princesse, Et sans cesse Se balance avec amour La jeune fille rieuse, Oublieuse Des promptes ailes du jour. L'eau, du pied de la baigneuse Peu soigneuse, Rejaillit sur le gazon, Sur sa chemise plissée, Balancée Aux branches d'un vert buisson. Et cependant des campagnes Ses compagnes Prennent toutes le chemin. Voici leur troupe frivole Qui s'envole En se tenant par la main. Chacune, en chantant comme elle, Passe et mêle Ce reproche a sa chanson: -- Oh! la paresseuse fille Qui s'habille Si tard un jour de moisson!
H. Berlioz sets stanzas 1-6, 10-13, 15, 16, 18, 19
F. Pedrell sets stanzas 1-4, 10-11, 16-19
J. Eichhoff sets stanzas 1-4, 18-19
A. Graud sets stanzas 1-4, 10-11, 15-16, 18-19
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Sara la baigneuse", appears in Les Orientales, no. 19 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869), "Sara la baigneuse", op. 11 (1832-34), stanzas 1-6, 10-13, 15, 16, 18, 19 [ vocal duet with piano ], Éd. Costallat & Cie [sung text checked 1 time]
- by J. Eichhoff , "Sarah La Baigneuse", stanzas 1-4,18-19 [ medium voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. A. O'Kelly [sung text not yet checked]
- by André Gédalge (1856 - 1926), "Sara la baigneuse" [ four-part mixed chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Albert Graud , "Sara la baigneuse", subtitle: "Orientale", stanzas 1-4, 10-11, 15-16, 18-19 [ medium voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. Etienne Challiot [sung text not yet checked]
- by Victor Massé (1822 - 1884), "Sara la baigneuse", published 1864 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], Éd. Léon Grus [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hippolyte Monpou (1804 - 1841), "Sara la baigneuse" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Felipe Pedrell (1841 - 1922), "Sara la baigneuse", stanzas 1-4,10-11, 16-19 [ high voice and piano ], from 12 Orientales, no. 2, Milan, G. Ricordi [sung text not yet checked]
- by Pauline Viardot-García (1821 - 1910), "Sara la baigneuse" [ voice and piano ], from Viardot mélodies, no. 4, Éd. G. Miran & Cie. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Garrett Medlock) , "Sara the bather", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 114
Word count: 465
Sara, beauty of indolence, Sways In a hammock above The basin of a fountain All full Of water drawn from the Ilisos. And the fragile swing Is reflected In the transparent mirror, With the white bather Who leans [over], Who leans [over] to see herself. Each time that the basket Which totters Passes [just above the water] in its flight, One sees upon the water that ripples Going out quickly Her lovely foot and her beautiful neck. She beats with a timid foot The wet wave Which ripples its clear picture; The lovely foot blushes alabaster; The playful girl Laughs [in] the freshness of the water. Remain here hidden: stay! In an hour With an ardent eye you will see The ingenue getting out of the bath Completely naked, Crossing her hands [over] her arms! For it is a star that shines, How a girl Who gets out of the bath at the clear swell, Looks if anyone is coming And shivers, All wet in the open air! [...] [...] [...] But Sara the blithe girl Is very slow To finish her gentle movements; Always she sways In silence, And goes [on] murmuring very low: “Oh! if I were [a] captain Or [a] sultan, I would take amber-scented baths In a bathtub of yellow marble Near a throne Between two golden griffins! “I would have [a] hammock of silk Which bends Under the body ready to faint, I would have soft ottoman [From] which emanates A fragrance that makes [one] love. “I could frolic nude Under the [sky]. In the stream of the garden, Without fear of seeing in the shadow Of the dark woods Two eyes light up suddenly. [...] “Then, I could, without anyone rushing My idleness, Leave with my clothes, Dragging upon the broad flagstones My sandals Of woolen cloth embroidered with rubies.” Thus [the] princess speaks of it, And ceaselessly Sways with love, The laughing young girl, Oblivious To the swift wings of the day. [...] And yet [from] the countrysides Her companions All take the same path. Here is their dizzy troop Which flies away Holding hands. Each one, singing like her, Passes and mixes This reproach to her song: -- Oh! the lazy girl Who dresses herself So late [on] a harvest day!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2019 by Garrett Medlock, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Sara la baigneuse", appears in Les Orientales, no. 19
This text was added to the website: 2019-01-12
Line count: 89
Word count: 378