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Ô fier jeune homme, ô tueur de gazelles, Cavalier pâle au regard de velours, Sur ton cheval dont les pieds ont des ailes, Emporte-moi vers le ciel des amours. J'ai bien souvent, la nuit, sur ma terrasse, Versé des pleurs en te tendant les bras. Stérile effort ! C'est l'ombre que j'embrasse, Et mes sanglots, tu ne les entends pas. Pourtant le ciel m'a faite ardente et belle, Ma lèvre douce est comme un fruit vermeil ; J'ai dans la voix des chants de colombelle, Sur les cheveux un rayon de soleil. Mais enfermée et couverte de voiles, Dans un palais, je meurs loin du vrai bien. Pourquoi des fleurs et pourquoi des étoiles, Si mon cœur bat et si tu n'en sais rien ? Mon bien-aimé, terribles sont tes armes, Ton long fusil, ta lance, ton poignard, Et, plus que tout, tes yeux aux sombres charmes, Perçant un cœur avec un seul regard. Ô fier jeune homme, ô tueur de gazelles, À leur destin mon sort est ressemblant ; Sur ton cheval dont les pieds ont des ailes, Joins mon cœur triste à ton butin sanglant.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Les nuits persanes par Armand Renaud, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1870, pages 75-76.
Text Authorship:
- by Armand Renaud (1836 - 1895), "Mélancolie", appears in Les nuits persanes, in 5. La solitaire, first published 1870 [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 Youssef Khan Nazare-Aga, dit Kyna (1870 - 1942), "Mélancolie", published 1906 [ medium voice and piano ], from Les nuits persanes, no. 3, Paris, Éd. E. Demets [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921), "La solitaire", op. 26 no. 3 (1870), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], from Mélodies persanes, no. 3, Éd. Durand [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921), "La Solitaire", op. 26b no. 3 (1891), published 1892 [ contralto and piano ], from cantata Nuit persane, no. 3, Paris, Éd. Durand [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 183
Oh proud young man, oh hunter of gazelles, Pale horseman with a velvety glance, Upon your steed with winged feet, Transport me to a heaven full of love. I’ve often, at night, on my terrace, Wept tears while reaching toward you. Vain effort! It’s merely a shadow that I embrace, And my sobs, you can’t hear them. Yet the sky makes me feel passionate and beautiful, My soft lips are cherry red; My voice sounds like the cooing of doves, My hair glows under the sun’s rays. But imprisoned and veiled, Inside the palace, I die far from my true love. Asking the flowers and the stars, why Does my heart still beat - don’t you know? My beloved, so terrible are your weapons, Your long rifle, your lance, your dagger, And worst of all, your dark, enchanting eyes, That can pierce a heart with one glance. Oh proud young man, oh hunter of gazelles, His destiny and mine are one and the same. Upon your steed with winged feet, Toss in my sad heart among your bloody loot.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles
"Mélancolie" = "Melancholy"
"La Solitaire" = "Alone"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2021 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Renaud (1836 - 1895), "Mélancolie", appears in Les nuits persanes, in 5. La solitaire, first published 1870
This text was added to the website: 2021-03-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 178