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.
L'AMOUR [Je le suis, ma Psyché]1, de toute la nature: Les rayons du soleil vous baisent trop souvent; Vos cheveux souffrent trop les caresses du vent: [Dès qu'il]2 les flatte, j'en murmure; L'air même que vous respirez Avec trop de plaisir passe sur votre bouche; Votre habit de trop près vous touche; Et sitôt que vous soupirez, Je ne sais quoi qui m'effarouche Craint parmi vos soupirs des soupirs égarés. Mais vous voulez vos sœurs. Allez, partez, Zéphire: Psyché le veut, je ne l'en puis dédire. (Le Zéphire s'envole.) Quand vous leur ferez voir ce bienheureux séjour, De ses trésors faites-leur cent largesses, Prodiguez-leur caresses sur caresses, Et du sang, s'il se peut, épuisez les tendresses, Pour vous rendre toute à l'amour. Je n'y mêlerai point d'importune présence; Mais ne leur faites pas de si longs entretiens: Vous ne sauriez pour eux avoir de complaisance Que vous ne dérobiez aux miens.
C. Koechlin sets lines 1-10
Paladilhe sets lines 1-10
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Koechlin: "Je suis jaloux, Psyché"
2 Paladilhe: "Quand il"
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), no title, written 1671, appears in Psyché, Act II, Scene 3 [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 Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Psyché", lines 1-10 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Omer Letorey (1873 - 1938), "Psyché", published [1903] [ medium voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. 'Au Ménestrel' Heugel & Cie. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Victor Massé (1822 - 1884), "Strophe de Psyché" [ high voice and piano ], from Troisième recueil de mélodies de V. Massé, no. 14, Éditions Léon Grus [sung text not yet checked]
- by Émile Paladilhe (1844 - 1926), "Psyché", 1887, lines 1-10 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 23
Word count: 154
Eros
I am jealous, Psyche, of all of nature:
the sun's rays kiss you too frequently;
your hair too often feels the wind's caresses:
they flatter it, and then I complain;
the very air that you breathe
too much enjoys moving past your mouth;
your garments touch your body too close;
and whenever you sigh,
I feel something that scares me
and fear that some sighs may go elsewhere.
But you want your sisters. Off you go, Zephyr:
Psyche wishes it, and I cannot change her mind.
(Zephyr flies away)
When you show them this happy spot,
give them many gifts from its treasures,
shower them with multiple caresses,
and spend, if you can, all your innate tenderness
to make yourself totally subject to love.
I will not intrude with my importunate presence;
but don't carry on too lengthy conversations:
you could not give them any favours
without taking away some from me.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Psyché" = "Psyché"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Peter Low, (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 Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684), no title, written 1671, appears in Psyché, Act II, Scene 3
This text was added to the website: 2025-05-19
Line count: 23
Word count: 153