Air champêtre
French source:
Jean Moréas
Qu’un jour guidé par l’amitié Ravi,
j’ai contemplé ton visage, ô déesse,
Perdu sous la mousse à moitié.
Que n’est-il demeuré, cet ami que je pleure,
O nymphe, à ton culte attaché,
Pour se mêler encore au souffle qui t’effleure
Et répondre à ton flot caché.
Pastoral Air
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
That on a day, guided by entranced friendship,
I gazed on your face, O goddess,
Half hidden beneath the moss.
Had he but remained, this friend whom I mourn,
O nymph, a devotee of your cult,
To mingle once more with the breeze that caresses you,
And to respond to your hidden waters!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Air champêtre
French source:
Jean Moréas
Pastoral Air
English source:
Richard Stokes
Belle source, je veux me rappeler sans cesse,
Lovely spring, I shall never cease to remember
Qu’un jour guidé par l’amitié Ravi,
That on a day, guided by entranced friendship,
j’ai contemplé ton visage, ô déesse,
I gazed on your face, O goddess,
Perdu sous la mousse à moitié.
Half hidden beneath the moss.
Que n’est-il demeuré, cet ami que je pleure,
Had he but remained, this friend whom I mourn,
O nymphe, à ton culte attaché,
O nymph, a devotee of your cult,
Pour se mêler encore au souffle qui t’effleure
To mingle once more with the breeze that caresses you,
Et répondre à ton flot caché.
And to respond to your hidden waters!
Composer
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…
