by (Bernard Marie) Jules, le comte de Rességuier (1788 - 1862)
Translation Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Le secret
Language: English 
Dis-moi de quel secret ta harpe solitaire 
  T'entretient au déclin du jour?
Dis-moi si de ton cœur révélant le mystère, 
  Elle exhale un soupir d'amour ?

Si ta pensée intime en ton âme éveillée,
  Te dit de craindre ou d'espérer ;
Si tu sens, sous tes doigts, une corde mouillée,
  Et si tu chantes pour pleurer ?

Dis-moi si d'un accord, d'une note plus tendre,
  Ton cœur se trouble quelquefois ; 
Si la voix d'un absent soudain se fait entendre ;
  Si tu réponds à cette voix?

Mais non; non, ne dis rien ; chante, soupire, pleure
  Cache le secret de ton cœur;
Si tu le dis jamais... il faudra que je meure, --
  De désespoir ou de bonheur.

Text Authorship:

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

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-09-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 112

The secret
Language: English  after the English 
Tell me, what is the secret thy harp, sole companion,
In the twilight confides to thee?
Tell me if, from thy heart, its depths revealing,
Comes a sigh of love for me?

If thy inmost thought, thy awakened soul,
Doth fear or hope, courage keeping,
If the strings, neath thy hand, are moistened with tears,
And if thou singest while weeping?

Tell me if, at a chord, or a note soft and tender,
Thy gentle heart is grieving; 
If the voice of an absent one doth murmur fondly,
If thou respondest, believing?

But no, naught to me say, but sigh, and sing while weeping, 
keep thy secret from me.
If thou to me dost tell... loving thee must I die
Of despair or of rapture, sweet, for thee.

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):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 128