Text & Translation
Green
English source:
Paul Verlaine
Et puis voici mon cœur qui ne bat que pour vous.
Ne le déchirez pas avec vos deux mains blanches
Et qu’à vos yeux si beaux l’humble présent soit doux.
J’arrive tout couvert encore de rosée
Que le vent du matin vient glacer à mon front.
Souffrez que ma fatigue à vos pieds reposée
Rêve des chers instants qui la délasseront.
Sur votre jeune sein laissez rouler ma tête
Toute sonore encor de vos derniers baisers;
Laissez-la s’apaiser de la bonne tempête,
Et que je dorme un peu puisque vous reposez.
Green
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And here too is my heart that beats just for you.
Do not tear it with your two white hands
And may the humble gift please your lovely eyes.
I come all covered still with the dew
Frozen to my brow by the morning breeze.
Let my fatigue, finding rest at your feet,
Dream of dear moments that will soothe it.
On your young breast let me cradle my head
Still ringing with your recent kisses;
After love’s sweet tumult grant it peace,
And let me sleep a while, since you rest.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Green
English source:
Paul Verlaine
Green
English source:
Richard Stokes
Voici des fruits, des fleurs, des feuilles et des branches
Here are flowers, branches, fruit, and fronds,
Et puis voici mon cœur qui ne bat que pour vous.
And here too is my heart that beats just for you.
Ne le déchirez pas avec vos deux mains blanches
Do not tear it with your two white hands
Et qu’à vos yeux si beaux l’humble présent soit doux.
And may the humble gift please your lovely eyes.
J’arrive tout couvert encore de rosée
I come all covered still with the dew
Que le vent du matin vient glacer à mon front.
Frozen to my brow by the morning breeze.
Souffrez que ma fatigue à vos pieds reposée
Let my fatigue, finding rest at your feet,
Rêve des chers instants qui la délasseront.
Dream of dear moments that will soothe it.
Sur votre jeune sein laissez rouler ma tête
On your young breast let me cradle my head
Toute sonore encor de vos derniers baisers;
Still ringing with your recent kisses;
Laissez-la s’apaiser de la bonne tempête,
After love’s sweet tumult grant it peace,
Et que je dorme un peu puisque vous reposez.
And let me sleep a while, since you rest.
Composer
Gabriel Fauré
"Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. Among his…
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…