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by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
Translation by Alexis Paulin Pâris (1800 - 1881)

I saw thee weep
Language: English 
Available translation(s): DUT
I saw thee weep - the big bright tear
Came o'er that eye of blue;
And then methought it did appear
A violet dropping dew --
I saw thee smile  -- the sapphire's [blaze]1
Beside thee ceased to shine;
It could not match the living rays
That fill'd that glance of thine.

As clouds from yonder sun receive
A deep and mellow dye,
Which scarce the shade of coming eve
Can banish from the sky --
Those smiles unto the moodiest mind
Their own pure joy impart;
Their sunshine leaves a glow behind
That lightens o'er the heart.

View original text (without footnotes)

Note: see also Bécquer's Imitación de Byron

1 in some versions, "blue"

Authorship:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 95

Je te vis pleurer
Language: French (Français)  after the English 
Je te vis pleurer, -- une épaisse et brillante larme
vint couvrir cet œil bleu,
et je crus voir une goutte
de rosée sur la violette.
Je te vis sourire, -- devant toi
les feux du saphir cessèrent de briller:
ils ne purent rivaliser avec les étincelles vivantes
qui à flots pressés rayonnaient de ta prunelle.

Comme le soleil donne aux nuages
une aimable teinte de clair obscur,
que les ombres de la nuit qui s'approche
peuvent à peine bannir de l'horizon;
ainsi tes sourires communiquent
une joie pure au plus sombre esprit,
et laissent après eux
une douce lumière qui réjouit le cœur.

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):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this text: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2012-01-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 102