Philosophes rêveurs, qui pensez tout...
Language: French (Français)
Available translation(s): ENG
Philosophes rêveurs, qui pensez tout savoir,
Ennemis de Bacchus, rentrez dans le devoir :
Vos esprits s'en font trop accroire.
Allez, vieux fous, allez apprendre à boire.
On est savant quand on boit bien :
Qui ne sait boire ne sait rien.
S'il faut rire ou chanter au milieu d'un festin,
Un docteur est alors au bout de son latin ;
Un goinfre en a toute la gloire.
Allez, vieux fous, etc.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Poésies Diverses, in Œuvres de Boileau, Vol. 2 (Collection des Classiques François), Paris: Chez Le Fèvre, 1824, p. 330, titled "Chanson à boir"; also confirmed with Œuvres poétiques de Boileau, Paris, Publication de l'Imprimerie Gènerale, 1872, Volume 2, page 171, titled "Chanson à boire que je fis au sortir de mon Cours de Philosophie à l'âge de dix-sept ans".
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):
- ENG English (Dr Melissa Givens) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 72
Dreaming philosophers who think they...
Language: English  after the French (Français)
Dreaming philosophers who think they know all,
Enemies of Bacchus, return to your work:
You believe too much in your own knowledge.
Come on, old fools, and learn how to drink!
The one who drinks well is wise:
The who doesn’t drink, knows nothing!
If laughter and song make a feast,
A doctor is far out of his ken,
A glutton will take all the glory!
Come on, old fools, etc.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2021 by Dr Melissa Givens, (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 Nicolas Boileau Despreaux (1636 - 1711), title 1: "Chanson à boire", title 2: "Chanson à boire que je fis au sortir de mon Cours de Philosophie à l'âge de dix-sept ans", written 1653
This text was added to the website: 2021-05-26
Line count: 10
Word count: 71