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That civilisation may not sink, Its great battle lost, Quiet the dog, tether the pony To a distant post; Our master Caesar is in the tent Where the maps are spread, His eyes fixed upon nothing, A hand under his head. Like a long-legged fly upon the stream His mind moves upon silence. That the topless towers be burnt And men recall that face, Move most gently if move you must In this lonely place. She thinks, part woman, three parts a child, That nobody looks; her feet Practise a tinker shuffle Picked up on a street. Like a long-legged fly upon the stream Her mind moves upon silence. That girls at puberty may find The first Adam in their thought, Shut the door of the Pope's chapel, Keep those children out. There on that scaffolding reclines Michael Angelo. With no more sound than the mice make His hand moves to and fro. Like a long-leggedfly upon the stream His mind moves upon silence.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in London Mercury, March 1939Text Authorship:
- by William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939), "Long-legged fly" [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 George Benjamin (b. 1960), "Upon silence", 1990 [ mezzo-soprano and seven strings ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by James Walter Wilson (b. 1922), "Long-legged fly", op. 54 no. ? [ unaccompanied soprano ], from Upon Silence [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "L'Araignée d'eau", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-19
Line count: 30
Word count: 164
Pour que la civilisation ne puisse pas sombrer, Sa grande bataille perdue, Fais taire le chien et attache le poney À un piquet éloigné ; Notre maître César est dans la tente Où les cartes sont étalées, Son œil fixé sur le néant, Une main tenant sa tête. (Comme une araignée d'eau sur le courant Son esprit bouge dans le silence.) Pour que ces tours sans sommets soient brûlées Et que les hommes se souviennent de ce visage, Bouge tout doucement, si tu dois bouger Dans cet endroit solitaire. Elle pense, un quart femme, trois quarts enfant, Que personne ne regarde ; son pied S'exerce à un pas de romanichels Vu dans la rue. (Comme une araignée d'eau sur le courant Son esprit bouge dans le silence.) Pour que les filles à la puberté puissent trouver Le premier Adam de leurs pensées, Ferme la porte de la chapelle du pape, Garde ces enfants dehors. Là sur cet échafaudage est couché Michel-Ange. Avec pas plus de bruit que des souris Sa main va et vient. (Comme une araignée d'eau sur le courant Son esprit bouge dans le silence.)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2012 by Guy Laffaille, (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 English by William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939), "Long-legged fly"
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-09
Line count: 30
Word count: 185