Sonnet | The great woods were awakening, it was barely daylight

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by Emmanuel Pradier (1840 - 1908), as George Pradel

Translation © by Dr Melissa Givens

Sonnet

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG GER

Les grands bois s'éveillaient, il faisait jour à peine
Dans le feuillage vert les oiseaux enchantés,
Célébraient du matin les premières clartés ;
Et moi, j'étais assis pensif au pied d'un chêne.

Malgré le doux printemps, mon âme était en peine;
Je l'attendais. Soudain... des pas précipités 
Foulérent le gazon... ivres de voluptés
Dans un tendre baiser se mêla notre haleine...

Enserrant dans mes bras ce corps souple et si beau,
Mon cœur contre le sien en étouffa la plainte ;
Et sa main me rendit étreinte pour étreinte !
Le taillis nous couvrit de son épais manteau.
Le soleil se voila, les étoiles pâlirent,
La terre disparut... et les cieux s'entr'ouvrirent !

Text Authorship:

by Emmanuel Pradier (1840 - 1908), as George Pradel [author's text not yet checked 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 Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912), "Sonnet", 1869, published 1869 [ voice and piano ], Éd. G. Hartmann [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Dr Melissa Givens) , "Sonnet", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
GER German (Deutsch) (Nathalie Senf) , "Sonett", copyright © 2014, (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: 14
Word count: 109

Sonnet

Language: English after the French (Français)

The great woods were awakening, it was barely daylight
In the green foliage the enchanted birds,
Celebrated in the first light of morning;
And I sat pensively at the foot of an oak tree.

Despite the mild spring, my soul was in pain;
I waited for my love. Suddenly... quick footsteps
Trample the lawn... drunk with voluptuousness
We mingled our breath in a tender kiss...

I wrapped my arms around this supple and beautiful body,
My heart, pressing against yours, quieted our moans;
And our hands returned embrace for embrace!
The thicket covered us with its thick coat.
The sun faded, the stars grew pale,
The earth disappeared... and the heavens opened up!

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2022 by Dr Melissa Givens, (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 Emmanuel Pradier (1840 - 1908), as George Pradel
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2022-11-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 113