A Chloris
French source:
Théophile de Viau
Mais j'entends, que tu m'aimes bien,
Je ne crois point que les rois mêmes
Aient un bonheur pareil au mien.
Que la mort serait importune
De venir changer ma fortune
A la félicité des cieux!
Tout ce qu'on dit de l'ambroisie
Ne touche point ma fantaisie
Au prix des grâces de tes yeux.
To Chloris
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
(And I'm told you love me dearly),
I do not believe that even kings
Can match the happiness I know.
Even death would be powerless
To alter my fortune
With the promise of heavenly bliss!
All that they say of ambrosia
Does not stir my imagination
Like the favour of your eyes!
Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
A Chloris
French source:
Théophile de Viau
To Chloris
English source:
Richard Stokes
S'il est vrai, Chloris, que tu m'aimes,
If it be true, Chloris, that you love me,
Mais j'entends, que tu m'aimes bien,
(And I'm told you love me dearly),
Je ne crois point que les rois mêmes
I do not believe that even kings
Aient un bonheur pareil au mien.
Can match the happiness I know.
Que la mort serait importune
Even death would be powerless
De venir changer ma fortune
To alter my fortune
A la félicité des cieux!
With the promise of heavenly bliss!
Tout ce qu'on dit de l'ambroisie
All that they say of ambrosia
Ne touche point ma fantaisie
Does not stir my imagination
Au prix des grâces de tes yeux.
Like the favour of your eyes!
Composer
Reynaldo Hahn
Reynaldo Hahn was a French composer, conductor and music critic. He moved to France at the age of three from Venezuela. Read more here.
Poet
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Notes of Old 25 Oct 2024
- Forbidden Fruit 14 Oct 2023
- 28. Claire Booth: Life & Love 19 Oct 2022
- 7. Benjamin Appl & Thomas Dunford: The Songwriter 15 Oct 2022
- Bring and Sing 14 Oct 2017