by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465)
Translation Singable translation by E. Adelaide Hahn (1893 - 1967)

En regardant vers le païs de France
Language: French (Français) 
En regardant vers le païs de France,
Ung jour m'avint, à Dovre sur la mer,
Qu'il me souvint de la doulce plaisance
Que je souloye où-dit païs trouver.
Si commençay de cueur 'à souspirer,
Combien certes que grant bien me faisoit
De veoir France, que mon cueur amer doit.

Je m'avisay que c'estoit non sçavance
De tells soupirs dedens mon cueur garder,
Veu que je voy que la voye commence
De bonne paix, qui tous bien peut donner.
Pour ce tournay en confort mon penser:
Mais non pourtant mon cueur ne se lassoit
De veoir France, que mon cueur amer doit.

Alors chargeay en la nef d'espérance
Tous mes souhaitz, en les priant d'aler
Oultre la mer, san faire demourance,
Et à France de me recommander.
Or, mous doint Dieu bonne paix sans tarder;
Adonc auray loisir, mais qu'ainsi soit,
De veoir France, que mon cueur amer doit.

Envoi
Paix est trésor qu'on ne peut trop louer,
Je hé guerre, point ne la doit priser;
Destourbé m'a longtemps, soit tort ou droit,
De veoir France, que mon cueur amer doit.

L. Nicolaou sets stanza 1:1-4, 3:1-4, 4

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English [singable] (E. Adelaide Hahn) , "Ballad"


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-07-02
Line count: 26
Word count: 180

Ballad
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
While toward the land of France my eyes were turning,
One day it chanced at Dover on the sea
That mem'ry fond those pleasures was discerning
Which I was wont to find in that countree.
Then I began to sigh most fervently,
How much truly it would bring me good cheer
To see France that to my heart is so dear.
Then I bethought myself to keep such yearning
Within my heart would surely nonsense be,
Since paths of peace open now, I am learning,
Of lovely peace, which makes all glad and free.
This turned my mind to a happier key,
But still my heart lost not its wish sincere
To see France that to my heart is so dear.
So then I loaded those wishes a-burning
All on the bark of hope, and bade them flee
Over the sea across the billows churning,
Straight to France, and convey regards from me.
Now that God give speedy peace is my plea,
And I'll have leisure then, granted He hear,
To see France that to my heart is so dear.
Peace is a treasure of highest degree;
Who hates not war, truly a dolt is he;
War's forbidden me now for many a year
To see France that to my heart is so dear.

From the Talma score.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-07-02
Line count: 25
Word count: 214