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Dans Venise la rouge, Pas un bateau qui bouge, Pas un pêcheur dans l'eau, Pas un falot. 2. Seul, assis à la grève, Le grand lion soulève, Sur l'horizon serein, Son pied d'airain. 3. Autour de lui, par groupes, Navires et chaloupes, Pareils à des hérons Couchés en ronds, 4. Dorment sur l'eau qui fume, Et croisent dans la brume, En légers tourbillons, Leurs pavillons. 5. La lune qui s'efface Couvre son front qui passe D'un nuage étoilé Demi-voilé. 6. Ainsi, la dame abbesse De Sainte-Croix rabaisse Sa cape aux larges plis Sur son surplis. 7. Et les palais antiques, Et les graves portiques, Et les blancs escaliers Des chevaliers, 8. Et les ponts, et les rues, Et les mornes statues, Et le golfe mouvant Qui tremble au vent, 9. Tout se tait, fors les gardes Aux longues hallebardes, Qui veillent aux créneaux Des arsenaux. 10. Ah! maintenant plus d'une Attend, au clair de lune, Quelque jeune muguet, L'oreille au guet. 11. Pour le bal qu'on prépare, Plus d'une qui se pare, Met devant son miroir Le masque noir. 12. Sur sa couche embaumée, La Vanina pâmée Presse encor son amant, En s'endormant ; 13. Et Narcissa, la folle, Au fond de sa gondole, S'oublie en un festin Jusqu'au matin. 14. Et qui, dans l'Italie, N'a son grain de folie ? Qui ne garde aux amours Ses plus beaux jours ? 15. Laissons la vieille horloge Au palais du vieux doge Lui compter de ses nuits Les longs ennuis. 16. Comptons plutôt, ma belle, Sur ta bouche rebelle Tant de baisers donnés... Ou pardonnés. 17. Comptons plutôt tes charmes, Comptons les douces larmes, Qu'à nos yeux a coûté La volupté!
B. Godard sets stanzas 1, 5, 10-11, 13-16
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Louis Charles Alfred de Musset (1810 - 1857), "Venise", appears in Premières poésies [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 Marcial del Adalid (1826 - 1881), "Venise", published 2009 [ medium voice and piano ], from Mélodies pour chant et piano - Cantares viejos y nuevos de Galicia, par Margarita Soto Viso, no. 16, Éd. Fundacion Pedro Barrié de la Maza, Conde de Fenosa [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benjamin Louis Paul Godard (1849 - 1895), "Venise", op. 10 no. 8, published [1870], stanzas 1,5,10-11,13-16 [ voice and piano ], from 12 morceaux de chant troisième série, no. 8, Éd. G. Flaxland [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Rudolf) Walther Hirschberg (1889 - 1960), "Venise" [ high voice and piano ], from 12 Mélodies, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Malherbe (1853 - 1911), "Venise", published [1909] [ medium voice and piano ], Éd. O. Bouwens van der Boijen & Cie. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hippolyte Monpou (1804 - 1841), "Venise", 1832? [ high voice and piano ], Éd. Lemoine Aîné [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Georges Villain , "Sérénade vénitienne", published 1878-1879 [ medium voice and piano ], in Journal du Musique, no. 77  [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Charles Gounod.
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), [adaptation] ; composed by Charles Gounod.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Faith J. Cormier) , "Venice", copyright © 2006, (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: 68
Word count: 280
Not a boat is stirring in red Venice, not a fisherman is on the water, not a light appears. Alone on the sand, the great lion lifts its brass paw on the calm horizon. Around him, groups of ships and boats lie like herons, sleeping on the smoking water, and their banners blend in the mist in feeble whirlwinds. The fading moon half-veils her brow with a cloud sewn with stars. As the lady Abbess of Sainte-Croix settles the broad folds of her cape over her surplice. And the ancient palaces, and the solemn porticos, and the white staircases of the knights, and the bridges, and the streets, and the dreary statues, and the moving gulf that trembles in the wind. All is still, except for the guards with their long halberds keeping watch on the ramparts of the arsenals. Oh! Now more than one lady listens anxiously in the moonlight for some young gallant. More than one lady is getting ready for the ball, putting on her black mask before her mirror. On her perfumed couch, Vanina still holds her lover as sleep overcomes her. And mad Narcissa in her gondola forgets herself, partying till dawn. And who, in all Italy, is not a little mad? Who does not reserve the days of youth for love? Let the old clock in the old Doge's palace count the long boredoms of its nights. Beautiful, instead let us count on your rebellious lips so many kisses given ... or pardoned. Let us count instead your charms, and the sweet tears of passion in our eyes!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2006 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Louis Charles Alfred de Musset (1810 - 1857), "Venise", appears in Premières poésies
This text was added to the website: 2006-01-10
Line count: 68
Word count: 264