L'absent
French source:
Victor Hugo
Vallons, côteaux, bois chevelus,
Pourquoi ce deuil et ce silence?
- Celui qui venait ne vient plus.
- Pourquoi personne à ta fenêtre,
Et pourquoi ton jardin sans fleurs,
Ô maison où donc est ton maître?
- Je ne sais pas! il est ailleurs.
- Chien, veille au logis! - Pourquoi faire?
La maison est vide à présent!"
- Enfant, qui pleures-tu? - Mon père.
- Femme, qui pleures-tu? -L'absent.
- Où donc est-il allé? - Dans l'ombre.
- Flots qui gémissez sur l'écueil,
D'où venez-vous? - Du bagne sombre.
- Et qu'apportez-vous? - Un cerceuil.
The absent one
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Valleys, hillsides, leafy woods,
Why this mourning and this silence?
– He who came here comes no more.
Why is no one at your window,
And why is your garden without flowers,
O house, where is your master?
– I do not know: he is elsewhere.
Dog, guard the home. – For what reason?
The house is empty now.
Child, who is it you mourn? – My father.
Woman, who is it you mourn? – The absent one.
Where has he gone? – Into the shadow.
Waves that moan against the reefs,
From where do you come? – The dark convict prison.
And what do you carry? – A coffin.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
L'absent
French source:
Victor Hugo
The absent one
English source:
Richard Stokes
- Sentiers où l'herbe se balance,
Paths of swaying grass,
Vallons, côteaux, bois chevelus,
Valleys, hillsides, leafy woods,
Pourquoi ce deuil et ce silence?
Why this mourning and this silence?
- Celui qui venait ne vient plus.
– He who came here comes no more.
- Pourquoi personne à ta fenêtre,
Why is no one at your window,
Et pourquoi ton jardin sans fleurs,
And why is your garden without flowers,
Ô maison où donc est ton maître?
O house, where is your master?
- Je ne sais pas! il est ailleurs.
– I do not know: he is elsewhere.
- Chien, veille au logis! - Pourquoi faire?
Dog, guard the home. – For what reason?
La maison est vide à présent!"
The house is empty now.
- Enfant, qui pleures-tu? - Mon père.
Child, who is it you mourn? – My father.
- Femme, qui pleures-tu? -L'absent.
Woman, who is it you mourn? – The absent one.
- Où donc est-il allé? - Dans l'ombre.
Where has he gone? – Into the shadow.
- Flots qui gémissez sur l'écueil,
Waves that moan against the reefs,
D'où venez-vous? - Du bagne sombre.
From where do you come? – The dark convict prison.
- Et qu'apportez-vous? - Un cerceuil.
And what do you carry? – A coffin.
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
Victor Hugo
Victor Marie Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. He is considered one of the greatest and best-known French writers. In France, Hugo's literary fame comes first from his poetry and then from his novels and his…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 24. Songs and Dances of Death: Thomas Oliemans & Malcolm Martineau 15 Oct 2019
- Opening Night: A Serenade to Music 12 Oct 2018