Crépuscule
French source:
Armand Silvestre
De leurs pétales rapprochées,
Les lys ont enfermé leur cœur,
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
Et jusqu'au rayon matinal,
Au cœur même des lys cachées,
Comme en un rêve virginal
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
Les lys ne dorment qu'un moment;
Veux-tu pas que, têtes penchées,
Nous causions amoureusement?
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
Dusk
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Of their close-set petals,
The lilies have closed their heart,
The ladybirds have retired for the night.
And until bright morning dawns
The ladybirds have remained abed
At the very heart of the hidden lilies,
As if in a virginal dream.
Lilies only sleep for a moment;
Do you not wish that, with lowered heads,
We might talk lovingly?
The ladybirds are abed.
Crépuscule
French source:
Armand Silvestre
Dusk
English source:
Richard Stokes
Comme un rideau sous la blancheur
Like a curtain beneath the paleness
De leurs pétales rapprochées,
Of their close-set petals,
Les lys ont enfermé leur cœur,
The lilies have closed their heart,
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
The ladybirds have retired for the night.
Et jusqu'au rayon matinal,
And until bright morning dawns
Au cœur même des lys cachées,
The ladybirds have remained abed
Comme en un rêve virginal
At the very heart of the hidden lilies,
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
As if in a virginal dream.
Les lys ne dorment qu'un moment;
Lilies only sleep for a moment;
Veux-tu pas que, têtes penchées,
Do you not wish that, with lowered heads,
Nous causions amoureusement?
We might talk lovingly?
Les coccinelles sont couchées.
The ladybirds are abed.
Composer
Jules Massenet
Jules Massenet was a French composer of the Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are Manon and Werther.
Poet
Armand Silvestre
Paul-Armand Silvestre, French poet and conteur, was born in Paris. He studied at the École polytechnique with the intention of entering the army, but in 1870 he entered the department of finance. He had a successful official career, was decorated…