Translation © by Amy Pfrimmer

Chanson de mer
Language: French (Français) 
Available translation(s): ENG ENG
Ton sourire infini m'est cher
Comme le divin pli des ondes,
Et je te crains quand tu me grondes,
           Comme la mer.

L'azur de tes grands yeux m'est cher :
C'est un lointain que je regarde
Sans cesse et sans y prendre garde,
           Un ciel de mer.

Ton courage léger m'est cher :
C'est un souffle vif où ma vie
S'emplit d'aise et se fortifie,
           L'air de la mer.

Enfin ton être entier m'est cher,
Toujours nouveau, toujours le même ;
O ma Néréide, je t'aime
           Comme la mer !

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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Píseň na moři"
  • ENG English (Michael Berridge) , "Sea song", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Amy Pfrimmer) , "Song of the sea", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2013-12-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 90

Song of the sea
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
Your infinite smile is dear to me 
Like the divine fold of the waves, 
And I fear you when you scold me, 
Like the sea.  

The azure-blue of your great eyes is precious to me: 
I am looking at a distance 
Without ceasing and without caution, 
A sky of the sea.  

Your light courage is dear to me: 
It's an intense breath where my life 
Fills with pleasure and it strengthens, 
The air of the sea.  

Finally your whole being is dear to me, 
Always new, always the same; 
O my néréide, I love you 
Like the sea!

Translator's note for stanza 4, line 3 - "néréide" = "sea nymph"


Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Amy Pfrimmer, (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: 2020-02-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 98