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Quand je mourrai, que l'on me mette, Avant que de clouer mon cercueil, Un peu de rouge à la pommette, Un peu de noir au bord de l'oeil. Car je veux, dans ma bière close, Comme le soir de son aveu, Rester éternellement rose Avec du khol sous mon œuil bleu. Pas de suaire en toile fine ; Mais drapez-moi dans les plis blancs De ma robe de mousseline, De ma robe à treize volants. C'est ma parure préférée : Je la portais quand je lui plus ; Son premier regard l'a sacrée, Et depuis je ne la mis plus. Posez-moi sans jaune immortelle, Sans coussin de larmes brodé. Sur mon oreiller de dentelle De ma chevelure inondé. Cet oreiller, dans les nuits folle, A vu dormir nos fronts unis, Et sous le drap noir des gondoles Compté nos baisers infinis. Entre mes mains de cire pâle, Que la prière réunit, Tournez ce chapelet d'opale Par le pape à Rome bènit. Je l'égrènerai dans la couche D'où nul encor ne s'est levé. Sa bouche en a dit sur ma bouche Chaque Pater et chaque Ave. Quand je mourrai, que l'on ne mette, Avant que de clouer mon cercueil. Un peu de rouge à la pommette Un peu de noir au bord de l'oeil.
C. Debussy sets stanzas 1-2, 5-8, 1
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Coquetterie posthume", written 1852-72, appears in Émaux et Camées [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 René-Félix Brancour (1862 - 1948), "Coquetterie posthume", op. 14, published 1931 [ voice and piano ], Paris, Jacquot [sung text not yet checked]
- by Maurice Brébant , "Coquetterie posthume" [ medium voice and piano ], Paris, Cavel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jules-Alfred Cressonnois (1823 - 1883), "Coquetterie posthume", published 1865 [ low voice and piano ], from Harmonies : 24 Mélodies, Chant & Piano, no. 18, Paris, chez Retté et Cie [sung text not yet checked]
- by Claude Achille Debussy (1862 - 1918), "Coquetterie posthume", L. 50/(39) (1883), stanzas 1-2,5-8,1 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Daniel Fleuret (1869 - 1915), "Coquetterie posthume" [ high voice and piano ], from Six mélodies, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Judith Kellock) , "Posthumous coqetry", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ingrid Schmithüsen) , "Posthume Koketterie", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Judith Kellock
This text was added to the website: 2007-01-15
Line count: 36
Word count: 210
When I die, one must place Before nailing down my coffin, A little rouge on my cheekbone, A little black line around my eye. Because I want, in my closed casket, Like the evening of his confession, To stay eternally rosy, With coal black on my blue eyes. Pose me without the yellow of immorality, Without a pillow embroidered with tears. On my lace pillow Flowing with my tresses. That pillow, in crazy nights, Has seen our brows sleeping together And on the black bulging shroud, Count our infinite kisses. Between my pale waxed hands Reunited in prayer, Wind the opal rosary, Blessed by the Roman Pope. I will unstring it in the bed, From which nothing again rises. His mouth will place on my mouth, Every Pater Noster and Ave Maria. When I die, one must place Before nailing down my coffin, A little rouge on my cheekbone, A little black line around my eye.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2007 by Judith Kellock, (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-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Coquetterie posthume", written 1852-72, appears in Émaux et Camées
This text was added to the website: 2007-01-15
Line count: 28
Word count: 156