Songs

L'amour captif

by Cécile Chaminade

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Text & Translation

L'amour captif
French source: Thérèse Maquet

Mignonne, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes;
Il ne pourra plus prendre son essor
Ni quitter jamais nos deux coeurs fidèles.
D'un noeud souple et fin de vos cheveux d'or,
Mignonne, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes!

Chère, de l'amour si capricieux
J'ai dompté pourtant le désir volage:
Il suit toute loi que dictent vos yeux,
Et j'ai mis enfin l'amour en servage,
Ô chère! l'amour, si capricieux!

Ma mie, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes.
Laissez par pitié ses lèvres en feu
Effleurer parfois vos lèvres rebelles,
A ce doux captif souriez un peu;
Ma mie, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes!

Captive love
English translation © Richard Stokes

Mignonne, I have tied our wings to love;
It will not now be able to soar
Nor ever leave our two faithful hearts.
I have tied our wings to love, Mignonne,
With a fine and supple knot of your golden hair.

Beloved, I have tamed the fickle desire
Of such capricious love:
Love now follows each law your eyes dictate,
And I have finally enthralled love,
O beloved, such capricious love.

My darling, I have tied our wings to love.
Have mercy and let its ardent lips
Sometimes brush against your rebellious lips,
Smile a little at this meek prisoner;
My darling, I have tied our wings to love.

L'amour captif
French source: Thérèse Maquet

Captive love
English source: Richard Stokes

Mignonne, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes;
Mignonne, I have tied our wings to love;
Il ne pourra plus prendre son essor
It will not now be able to soar
Ni quitter jamais nos deux coeurs fidèles.
Nor ever leave our two faithful hearts.
D'un noeud souple et fin de vos cheveux d'or,
I have tied our wings to love, Mignonne,
Mignonne, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes!
With a fine and supple knot of your golden hair.

Chère, de l'amour si capricieux
Beloved, I have tamed the fickle desire
J'ai dompté pourtant le désir volage:
Of such capricious love:
Il suit toute loi que dictent vos yeux,
Love now follows each law your eyes dictate,
Et j'ai mis enfin l'amour en servage,
And I have finally enthralled love,
Ô chère! l'amour, si capricieux!
O beloved, such capricious love.

Ma mie, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes.
My darling, I have tied our wings to love.
Laissez par pitié ses lèvres en feu
Have mercy and let its ardent lips
Effleurer parfois vos lèvres rebelles,
Sometimes brush against your rebellious lips,
A ce doux captif souriez un peu;
Smile a little at this meek prisoner;
Ma mie, à l'amour j'ai lié les ailes!
My darling, I have tied our wings to love.

Composer

Cécile Chaminade

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) was one of the most successful female professional musicians of the 19th century, specialising in piano and vocal works and amassing a fortune during her lifetime. Born in Paris, she had an initially prosperous…

Performances

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