by Charles Cotton (1630 - 1687)
Translation Pablo Sabat
Pastoral
Language: English
The day's grown old; the fainting sun Has but a little way to run, And yet his steeds, with all his skill, Scarce lug the chariot down the hill. The shadows now so long do grow, That brambles like tall cedars show; Mole hills seem mountains, and the ant Appears a monstrous elephant. A very little, little flock Shades thrice the ground that it would stock; Whilst the small stripling following them Appears a mighty Polypheme. And now on benches all are sat, In the cool air to sit and chat, Till Phoebus, dipping in the West, Shall lead the world the way to rest.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Cotton (1630 - 1687) [author's text not yet checked 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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Pastoral", op. 31 no. 1 (1943), published 1944, first performed 1943 [ tenor, horn, and strings or piano ], from Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, no. 1, London : Boosey & Hawkes [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Pastoral", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Jean-Pierre Granger) , "Pastorale", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- NYN Norwegian (Nynorsk) (Are Frode Søholt) , "Hyrdedikt", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Pablo Sabat) , "Pastoral"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 105
Pastoral
Language: Spanish (Español)  after the English
El día ha envejecido; al desfalleciente sol Le queda un corto camino que recorrer, Y sin embargo sus caballos, con toda su habilidad, Difícilmente tiran el carruaje abajo la colina. Ahora las sombras crecen tanto, Que arbustos como altos cedros se muestran; Montoncitos de tierra parecen montañas, y la hormiga Aparenta un monstruoso elefante. Un muy pequeño, pequeño grupo Crea una sombra en el suelo tres veces la que debiera; Mientras que el pequeño niño que lo sigue Parece un poderoso Polifemo. Y ahora en bancas están todos sentados, Al aire fresco para conversar, Hasta que Febo, hundiéndose en el Oeste, Lleve al mundo por el camino al reposo.
The translator has released this translation into the public domain.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to Spanish (Español) by Pablo Sabat
Based on:
- a text in English by Charles Cotton (1630 - 1687)
This text was added to the website: 2013-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 109