L'universelle mort ressemble au flux marin Tranquille ou furieux, n'ayant hâte ni trêve, Qui s'enfle, gronde, roule et va de grève en grève, Et sur les hauts rochers passe soir et matin. Si la félicité de ce vain monde est brève, Si le jour de l'angoisse est un siècle sans fin, Quand notre pied trébuche à ce gouffre divin, L'angoisse et le bonheur sont le rêve d'un rêve. Ô cœur de l'homme, ô toi, misérable martyr, Que dévore l'amour et que ronge la haine, Toi qui veux être libre et qui baises ta chaîne ! Regarde ! Le flot monte et vient pour t'engloutir ! Ton enfer va s'éteindre, et la noire marée Va le verser l'oubli de son ombre sacrée.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "Fiat nox", appears in Poèmes barbares, first published 1862 [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 Klaus Miehling (b. 1963), "Fiat nox", op. 366 (Drei Chorlieder nach Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle für vierstimmigen Chor und Klavier,) no. 1 (2024) [ four-part chorus and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Finnish (Suomi), a translation by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi (1885 - 1962) , "Fiat nox", subtitle: "Vapaasti Leconte de Lisle'in mukaan", appears in Runoja, first published 1906 ; composed by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen, Erkki Gustaf Melartin.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Fiat nox"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 118
Niin tulkoon yö ja kuolo yli kaiken sen mi onnellist' on ollut, suruisata, ja varjot syleilköhöt maailmata, sen niinkuin meri alleen haudaten. Kuin onkaan päivä ollut helteinen ja tuskan hetki niinkuin vuosisata! Yö, untas kylvä kylmän-raukeata ja liekit sammuta sa sydänten! Mik' onkaan, sydän, osaas suruisempi, sun, jota syöpi viha, jäytää lempi, sun, joka kahleitasi suutelet! Oi katso: yö ja tyhjyys lähestyvät, oi katso: aukee unhon ääret syvät ja pyhään hiljaisuuteen raukenet.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Text Authorship:
- by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi (1885 - 1962), "Fiat nox", subtitle: "Vapaasti Leconte de Lisle'in mukaan", appears in Runoja, first published 1906 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "Fiat nox", appears in Poèmes barbares, first published 1862
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892 - 1959), "Fiat nox", op. 25 (Laulua V. A. Koskenniemen runoihin) no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Erkki Gustaf Melartin (1875 - 1937), "Fiat nox", op. 47 no. 8 (1911) [ voice and piano ], from Lauluja V. A. Koskenniemen sanoihin III, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 72