On dirait ton regard d’une vapeur couvert ; Ton œil mystérieux, — est-il bleu, gris ou vert ? — Alternativement tendre, [doux et cruel]1, Réfléchit l’indolence et la pâleur du ciel. Tu rappelles ces jours blancs, tièdes et voilés, Qui font se fondre en pleurs les cœurs ensorcelés, Quand, agités d’un mal inconnu qui les tord, Les nerfs trop éveillés raillent l’esprit qui dort. Tu ressembles parfois à ces beaux horizons Qu’allument les soleils des brumeuses saisons ; — Comme tu resplendis, paysage mouillé Qu’enflamment les rayons tombant d’un ciel brouillé ! Ô femme dangereuse ! ô séduisants climats ! Adorerai-je aussi ta neige et vos frimas, Et saurai-je tirer de l’implacable hiver Des plaisirs plus aigus que la glace et le fer ?
Confirmed with Charles Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du mal, Spleen et Idéal, Paris: Poulet-Malassis et de Broise, 1857, pages 107-108. Also confirmed with Les Fleurs du mal, Spleen et Idéal, Paris: Poulet-Malassis et de Broise, 1861, pages 113-114. Punctuation and formatting follows the 1857 edition. Note: this was number 46 in the 1857 edition of Les Fleurs du mal but number 50 or 51 in subsequent editions.
1 1861 edition: "rêveur, cruel"Text Authorship:
- by Charles Baudelaire (1821 - 1867), "Ciel brouillé", appears in Les Fleurs du mal, in 1. Spleen et Idéal, no. 50, Paris, Poulet-Malassis et de Broise, first published 1857 [author's text checked 3 times 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 Marguerite Canal (1890 - 1978), "Ciel brouillé" [ voice and piano ], from Sept Poèmes de Charles Baudelaire, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nicolas Chevereau (b. 1989), "Ciel brouillé", 2015, published 2017, first performed 2016 [ baritone and piano ], from Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire pour baryton et piano, no. 1, Sampson (France), Éd. Delatour [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gaston Doin (1878 - 1962), "Ciel brouillé", published 1950 [ high voice and piano ], from Mélodies romantiques, no. 10, Éd. Alphonse Leduc [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Cyril Meir Scott) , "Overcast Sky", appears in The Flowers of Evil, London, Elkin Mathews, first published 1909
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 119
Meseemeth thy glance, soft enshrouded with dew, Thy mysterious eyes (are they grey, green or blue ?), Alternately cruel, and tender, and shy, Reflect both the languor and calm of the sky. Thou recallest those white days — with shadows caressed, Engendering tears from th' enraptured breast, When racked by an anguish unfathomed that weeps, The nerves, too awake, jibe the spirit that sleeps. At times — thou art like those horizons divine, Where the suns of the nebulous seasons decline; How resplendent art thou — O pasturage vast, Illumed by the beams of a sky overcast! O! dangerous dame — oh seductive clime! As well, will I love both thy snow and thy rime, And shall I know how from the frosts to entice Delights that are keener than iron and ice?
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Confirmed with Cyril Scott, The Flowers of Evil [by Charles Baudelaire; translated into English verse by Cyril Scott], London: Elkin Mathews, 1909, page 34.
Text Authorship:
- by Cyril Meir Scott (1879 - 1970), "Overcast Sky", appears in The Flowers of Evil, London, Elkin Mathews, first published 1909 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles Baudelaire (1821 - 1867), "Ciel brouillé", appears in Les Fleurs du mal, in 1. Spleen et Idéal, no. 50, Paris, Poulet-Malassis et de Broise, first published 1857
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 133