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Dans l'alcôve sombre, Près d'un humble autel, L'enfant dort à l'ombre Du lit maternel, Tandis qu'il repose, Sa paupière rose, Pour la terre close, S'ouvre pour le ciel. Il fait bien des rêves ; Il voit par moments Le sable des grèves Plein de diamants, Des soleils de flammes, Et de belles dames Qui portent des âmes Dans leurs bras charmants. Songe qui l'enchante ! Il voit des ruisseaux ; Une voix qui chante Sort du fond des eaux. Ses sœurs sont plus belles ; Son père est près d'elles ; Sa mère a des ailes Comme les oiseaux. Il voit mille choses Plus belles encor ; Des lis et des roses Plein le corridor ; Des lacs de délice Où le poisson glisse, Où l'onde se plisse À des roseaux d'or ! Enfant, rêve encore ! Dors, ô mes amours ! Ta jeune âme ignore Où s'en vont tes jours. Comme une algue morte, Tu vas ; que t'importe ! Le courant t'emporte, Mais tu dors toujours ! Sans soin, sans étude, Tu dors en chemin ; Et l'inquiétude A la froide main, De son ongle aride, Sur ton front candide Qui n'a point de ride, N'écrit pas : Demain ! Il dort, innocence ! Les anges sereins Qui savent d'avance Le sort des humains, Le voyant sans armes, Sans peur, sans alarmes, Baisent avec larmes Ses petites mains. Leurs lèvres effleurent Ses lèvres de miel. L'enfant voit qu'ils pleurent Et dit : Gabriel ! Mais l'ange le touche, Et, berçant sa couche, Un doigt sur sa bouche, Lève l'autre au ciel. Cependant sa mère, Prompte à le bercer, Croit qu'une chimère Le vient oppresser ; Fière, elle l'admire, L'entend qui soupire, Et le fait sourire Avec un baiser.
M. de Rothschild sets stanzas 5-6, 9
F. Boïeldieu sets stanzas 3, 5, 9
R. de Boisdeffre sets stanzas 1-3, 5
F. de la Tombelle sets stanzas 1-3, 6
L. Netzel sets stanza 5
L. Kreutzer sets stanzas 1, 3, 5
A. Périlhou sets stanzas 1-2, 4, 7
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Dans l'alcôve sombre", appears in Les Feuilles d'automne, no. 20, first published 1831 [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 Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869), "Dans l'alcôve sombre" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by François Adrien Boïeldieu (1775 - 1834), "Le rêve ou la jeune mère", stanzas 3,5,9 [ voice and piano ], setting begins "Un enfant dormait et dans son sourire" (not in the text shown) [sung text not yet checked]
- by René de Boisdeffre (1838 - 1906), "Berceuse", op. 30 no. 3, stanzas 1-3,5 [ medium voice and piano ], from Six mélodies, recueil 2, no. 3, Éd. J. Hamelle [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charlotte Devéria, née Thomas (1856 - 1885), "L'Enfant au berceau", <<1877 [ high voice and piano ], from 16 Mélodies pour chant avec accompagnement de piano, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Léon Charles François Kreutzer (1817 - 1868), "Berceuse", stanzas 1,3,5 [ medium voice and piano ], Éd. Brandus et Cie. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Laura Constance Netzel (1839 - 1927), as Lago, "Rêve encore !", op. 46 (Quatre Melodies pour Mezzo Soprano ou Baryton avec accompagnement de Piano par Lago) no. 3, published 1878, stanza 5 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Christiania, Warmuth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Albert Périlhou (1846 - 1936), "Songes d'enfants", published 1897, stanzas 1-2,4,7 [ voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. 'Au Ménestrel' Heugel & Cie. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mathilde, Baroness Willy de Rothschild (1832 - 1924), "Enfant rêve encore", stanzas 5-6,9 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Fernand de la Tombelle (1854 - 1928), "Dans l'alcôve sombre", published 1892, stanzas 1-3,6 [ high voice and piano ], Éd. Richault [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Kde nízký oltář stojí…", Prague, first published 1877
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-01-12
Line count: 72
Word count: 270
In a somber alcove Near a humble altar, A child sleeps in the shadow Of his mother's bed; while he rests, his pink eyelids, shut to the world, are open to heaven. His dreams are with him deeply; he sees at various times the sand of a pebbly beach covered in diamonds, the sun in flames, and beautiful ladies who are carrying souls in their lovely arms. It is a dream that will enchant you! He sees brooks; A voice sings out from the depths of the waters. His sisters are more lovely; His father is there with them ; His mother has wings like birds do. He sees a thousand things even more fair; Roses and lilies fill the hall; Delightful lakes where fish glide past, where the waves crease the surface as they approach reeds of gold! Child, awaken once more! Sleep, o my loves! Your young soul has no idea where your days are going. Like inert algae, you go; what does it matter? The current carries you, but you are always asleep! Without care, without consideration, you sleep on this road; And anxiety with its cold hand and dull talons on your guileless brow without a single wrinkle Does not write "tomorrow!" He sleeps -- innocence! The serene angels who know in advance the lot of humanity, watch him: unarmed, fearless, unalarmed; and with tears they kiss his small hands. Their lips brush his lips of honey. The child sees that they are weeping and says: Gabriel! But the angel, rocking his bed, touches one finger to his lips and lifts the other toward heaven. Nevertheless, his mother, eager to pamper him, believes a chimera has come to oppress him; proudly she admires him, listens to his sighs, and makes him smile with a kiss.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Dans l'alcôve sombre" = "In a somber alcove"
"Berceuse" = "Lullaby"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Dans l'alcôve sombre", appears in Les Feuilles d'automne, no. 20, first published 1831
This text was added to the website: 2012-12-03
Line count: 72
Word count: 297