Cythère
French source:
Paul Verlaine
Abrite doucement nos joies
Qu'éventent des rosiers amis;
L'odeur des roses, faible, grâce
Au vent léger d'été qui passe,
Se mêle aux parfums qu'elle a mis ;
Comme ses yeux l'avaient promis,
Son courage est grand et sa lèvre
Communique une exquise fièvre ;
Et l'Amour comblant tout, hormis
La Faim, sorbets et confitures
Nous préservent des courbatures.
Cythera
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Tenderly hides our ecstasy
The friendly rose trees cool;
The faint scent of roses,
Thanks to the summer breeze that blows,
Blends with the perfume she wears;
As her eyes promised –
She is fearless and her lips
Communicate an exquisite fever;
And Love, having sated all, except
Hunger – sherbets and preserves
Keep our bodies from aching.
Cythère
French source:
Paul Verlaine
Cythera
English source:
Richard Stokes
Un pavillon à claires-voies
The latticed arbour
Abrite doucement nos joies
Tenderly hides our ecstasy
Qu'éventent des rosiers amis;
The friendly rose trees cool;
L'odeur des roses, faible, grâce
The faint scent of roses,
Au vent léger d'été qui passe,
Thanks to the summer breeze that blows,
Se mêle aux parfums qu'elle a mis ;
Blends with the perfume she wears;
Comme ses yeux l'avaient promis,
As her eyes promised –
Son courage est grand et sa lèvre
She is fearless and her lips
Communique une exquise fièvre ;
Communicate an exquisite fever;
Et l'Amour comblant tout, hormis
And Love, having sated all, except
La Faim, sorbets et confitures
Hunger – sherbets and preserves
Nous préservent des courbatures.
Keep our bodies from aching.
Composer
Régine Poldowski
Poldowski was born Régine Wieniawski, daughter of the Polish violinist and composer Henryk Wieniawski. Her famous father died when she was ten months old. Poldowski moved among the musical aristocracy from an early age and performed her own music…
Poet
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry. Born in Metz, Verlaine was educated at the Lycée Impérial…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- The Painter's Work 16 Oct 2023
- 71. Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton: A Verlaine Songbook 28 Oct 2022
- 22. Six Songs of Melmoth: Carolyn Sampson & Joseph Middleton 13 Oct 2020