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by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)
Translation © by Laura L. Nagle
Souvenir, souvenir, que me veux‑tu ?...
Language: French (Français)
Souvenir, souvenir, que me veux-tu ? L'automne Faisait voler la grive à travers l'air atone, Et le soleil dardait un rayon monotone Sur le bois jaunissant où la bise détone Nous étions seul à seule et marchions en rêvant, Elle et moi, les cheveux et la pensée au vent. Soudain, tournant vers moi son regard émouvant : « Quel fut ton plus beau jour? » fit sa voix d'or vivant, Sa voix douce et sonore, au frais timbre angélique. Un sourire discret lui donna la réplique, Et je baisai sa main blanche, dévotement. — Ah ! les premières fleurs, qu'elles sont parfumées ! Et qu'il bruit avec un murmure charmant Le premier oui qui sort de lèvres bien-aimées !
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Poëmes saturniens, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1866, in Melancholia, pages 15-16.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Nevermore", appears in Poèmes saturniens, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1866 [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 Paul Amiet (1883 - 1942), "Nevermore", published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Quatre mélodies, no. 1, Paris, Sénart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Blasini, dit Blasi (1857 - 1913), "Plus jamais", alternate title: "Sérénade", 1893, published 1893 [ voice and piano ], Delay (under the title "Plus jamais"); Paris, Hachette (under the title "Sérénade") [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Bonneau (1918 - 1995), "Nevermore", published 1955 [ voice and piano ], from Six poésies de Paul Verlaine, no. 5, S.E.M.I. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles-Eugène Domergue (1878 - 1931), "Nevermore", 1906, published [1913] [ high voice and piano ], Paris, M. Serpeille [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sylvio Lazzari (1857 - 1944), "Nevermore", published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Hachette [sung text not yet checked]
- by Henry de Marliave , "Nevermore" [ voice and piano ], H. Marliave [sung text not yet checked]
- by Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974), "Nevermore", op. 409 no. 6 (1964), published 1966 [ soprano and piano ], from L'amour chante, no. 6, Bryn Mawr, Theodore Presser and Co. [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Otlet , "Nevermore", published 1935 [ voice and piano ], from Melancholia, no. 1, Bosworth et Cie [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nicolaas Schuyt (1922 - 1992), "Melancholia", published 1981-2 [ voice and piano ], from Alla Deriva, Amsterdam, Donemus [sung text not yet checked]
- by Guillermo Uribe Holguín (1880 - 1971), "Nevermore", op. 1 (Seis canciones) no. 3 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philip Wilby (b. 1949), "Nevermore", copyright © 1988, first performed 1983 [ medium voice and piano ], from Ten songs of Paul Verlaine for medium voice and piano, Cycle I : Melancholia, no. 1, Chester Music [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura L. Nagle) , "Nevermore", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Bergen Weeks Applegate) , "Nevermore", appears in Poems Saturnine, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Tamás Rédey) , "Nevermore", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Bronisława Ostrowska) , "Never more", Kraków, J. Mortkowicz, first published 1911
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 115
Nevermore
Language: English after the French (Français)
Memory, memory, what do you want of me? Autumn had caused the thrush to fly through the listless air, And the sun was shooting a monotonous ray Upon the yellowing forest from which the North wind bursts. We were alone, she and I, daydreaming as we walked along, Our hair and our thoughts streaming in the wind. Suddenly, as she turned to me her poignant gaze: "What was your happiest day?" said her voice like gold come to life, Her soft and sonorous voice, with its cool, angelic timbre. A discreet smile gave her the answer, And I kissed her pale hand, devoutly. -- Ah! the first flowers, how sweet they smell! And how charming the murmur of The first yes that comes from beloved lips!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2007 by Laura L. Nagle, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Nevermore", appears in Poèmes saturniens, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1866
This text was added to the website: 2007-04-25
Line count: 14
Word count: 125