Le paon
French source:
Jules Renard
Ce devait être pour hier. En habit de gala, il était prêt.
Il n’attendait que sa fiancée. Elle n’est pas venue.
Elle ne peut tarder.
Glorieux, il se promène avec une allure de prince indien et porte sur lui les riches présents d’usage.
L’amour avive l’éclat de ses couleurs et son aigrette tremble comme une lyre.
La fiancée n’arrive pas.
Il monte au haut du toit et regarde du côté du soleil.
Il jette son cri diabolique:
Léon! Léon!
C’est ainsi qu’il appelle sa fiancée. Il ne voit rien venir et personne ne répond.
Les volailles habituées ne lèvent même point la tête. Elles sont lasses de l’admirer.
Il redescend dans la cour, si sûr d’être beau qu’il est incapable de rancune.
Son mariage sera pour demain.
Et, ne sachant que faire du reste de la journée, il se dirige vers le perron.
Il gravit les marches, comme des marches de temple, d’un pas officiel.
Il relève sa robe à queue toute lourde des yeux qui n’ont pu se détacher d’elle.
Il répète encore une fois la cérémonie.
The Peacock
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
It was to have been yesterday. In full regalia he was ready. It was only his bride he was waiting for. She has
not come. She cannot be long.
Proudly he processes the with air of an Indian prince,
bearing about his person the customary lavish gifts.
Love burnishes the brilliance of his colours,
and his crest quivers like a lyre.
His bride does not appear.
He ascends to the top of the roof and looks towards the sun. He utters his devilish cry:
Léon! Léon!
It is thus that he summons his bride. He can see nothing drawing near, and no one replies.
The fowls are used to all this and do not even raise their heads.
They are tired of admiring him. He descends once more to the yard, so sure of his beauty that he is incapable of resentment.
His marriage will take place tomorrow.
And, not knowing what to do for the rest of the day, he heads for the flight of steps.
He ascends them, as though they were the steps of a temple, with a formal tread.
He lifts his train, heavy with eyes that have been unable to detach themselves.
Once more he repeats the ceremony.
Le paon
French source:
Jules Renard
The Peacock
English source:
Richard Stokes
Il va sûrement se marier aujourd’hui.
He will surely get married today.
Ce devait être pour hier. En habit de gala, il était prêt.
It was to have been yesterday. In full regalia he was ready. It was only his bride he was waiting for. She has
Il n’attendait que sa fiancée. Elle n’est pas venue.
not come. She cannot be long.
Elle ne peut tarder.
Proudly he processes the with air of an Indian prince,
Glorieux, il se promène avec une allure de prince indien et porte sur lui les riches présents d’usage.
bearing about his person the customary lavish gifts.
L’amour avive l’éclat de ses couleurs et son aigrette tremble comme une lyre.
Love burnishes the brilliance of his colours,
La fiancée n’arrive pas.
and his crest quivers like a lyre.
Il monte au haut du toit et regarde du côté du soleil.
His bride does not appear.
Il jette son cri diabolique:
He ascends to the top of the roof and looks towards the sun. He utters his devilish cry:
Léon! Léon!
Léon! Léon!
C’est ainsi qu’il appelle sa fiancée. Il ne voit rien venir et personne ne répond.
It is thus that he summons his bride. He can see nothing drawing near, and no one replies.
Les volailles habituées ne lèvent même point la tête. Elles sont lasses de l’admirer.
The fowls are used to all this and do not even raise their heads.
Il redescend dans la cour, si sûr d’être beau qu’il est incapable de rancune.
They are tired of admiring him. He descends once more to the yard, so sure of his beauty that he is incapable of resentment.
Son mariage sera pour demain.
His marriage will take place tomorrow.
Et, ne sachant que faire du reste de la journée, il se dirige vers le perron.
And, not knowing what to do for the rest of the day, he heads for the flight of steps.
Il gravit les marches, comme des marches de temple, d’un pas officiel.
He ascends them, as though they were the steps of a temple, with a formal tread.
Il relève sa robe à queue toute lourde des yeux qui n’ont pu se détacher d’elle.
He lifts his train, heavy with eyes that have been unable to detach themselves.
Il répète encore une fois la cérémonie.
Once more he repeats the ceremony.
Composer
Maurice Ravel
Joseph Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist and conductor. In the 1920s and 1930s he was internationally regarded as France's greatest living composer. He was one of the first composers to acknowledge the potential of recording in making…
