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Au levant lá-bas est une île; Je la découvris l'autre jour, Elle a bien trente pas de tour. Quand la mer est blême et tranquille, On l'entrevoit á l'horizon; J'y veux bâtir une maison Toute en nacre, en plumes de cygnes, De martins pêcheurs et de paons, De coraux aux festons grimpants Au lieu de myrthes et de vignes. Nacre et corail, voilà nos fleurs A nous autres maîtres pêcheurs. Mon amour, je veux t'y conduire, Et lorsque la nuit ma Pierra A la fenêtre je mettrai, Les marins sur l'eau voyant luire Ses grands yeux et son teint vermeil Diront: "Tiens, voilá le soleil!"
Authorship
- by Léon de Wailly (1804 - 1863) [author's text not yet checked 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), "Chansonette de Mr Léon de Wailly" [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Faith J. Cormier) , title 1: "A Little Song by Mr. Léon de Wailly", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 105
Far to the east lies an island. I discovered it the other day. It's only thirty paces around. When the sea is pale and calm you can glimpse it on the horizon. I want to build a house there, of mother-of-pearl and of the plumes of swans, kingfishers and peacocks. Coral will climb its walls instead of myrtle and vines. We are master-fishermen, and our flowers are of mother-of-pearl and coral. My love, I want to take you there. In the evening, when my Pierra is at the window, sailors at sea will see her shining eyes and skin and say, "Look, the sun!"
Authorship
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Faith J. Cormier, (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:
- a text in French (Français) by Léon de Wailly (1804 - 1863)
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 105