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Les Contes
French source: Pierre Louÿs

Je suis aimée des petits enfants; dès qu'ils me
voient, ils courent à moi et s'accrochent à ma
tunique et prennent mes jambes dans leurs
petits bras.
S'ils ont cueilli des fleurs, ils me les donnent
toutes; s'ils ont pris un scarabée, ils le mettent
dans ma main; s'ils n'ont rien, ils me caressent
et me font asseoir devant eux.
Alors ils m'embrassent sur la joue, ils posent
leurs têtes sur mes seins; ils me supplient avec
les yeux. Je sais bien ce que cela veut dire.
Cela veut dire: « Bilitis chérie, redis-nous, car
nous sommes gentils, l'histoire du héros
Perseus ou la mort de la petite Hellé. »

The Stories
English translation © Carmella Cao

I am loved by the little children; as soon as
they see me, they run to me and cling to my
tunic and take my legs in their little arms.
If they have picked flowers, they give them all
to me; if they have caught a beetle, they put it
in my hand; if they have nothing, they caress
me and make me sit in front of them.
Then they kiss me on the cheek, they put their
heads upon my breasts; they plead with their
eyes. I know very well what that means.
That means: “Bilitis dear, retell us because we
are good, the story of the hero Perseus or the
death of the little Hellé.”

Les Contes
French source: Pierre Louÿs

The Stories
English source: Carmella Cao

Je suis aimée des petits enfants; dès qu'ils me
I am loved by the little children; as soon as
voient, ils courent à moi et s'accrochent à ma
they see me, they run to me and cling to my
tunique et prennent mes jambes dans leurs
tunic and take my legs in their little arms.
petits bras.
If they have picked flowers, they give them all
S'ils ont cueilli des fleurs, ils me les donnent
to me; if they have caught a beetle, they put it
toutes; s'ils ont pris un scarabée, ils le mettent
in my hand; if they have nothing, they caress
dans ma main; s'ils n'ont rien, ils me caressent
me and make me sit in front of them.
et me font asseoir devant eux.
Then they kiss me on the cheek, they put their
Alors ils m'embrassent sur la joue, ils posent
heads upon my breasts; they plead with their
leurs têtes sur mes seins; ils me supplient avec
eyes. I know very well what that means.
les yeux. Je sais bien ce que cela veut dire.
That means: “Bilitis dear, retell us because we
Cela veut dire: « Bilitis chérie, redis-nous, car
are good, the story of the hero Perseus or the
nous sommes gentils, l'histoire du héros
death of the little Hellé.”
Perseus ou la mort de la petite Hellé. »

Composer

Claude Debussy

(Achille) Claude Debussy was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Please click…

Poet

Pierre Louÿs

Pierre Louÿs was a French poet and writer, best known for his classical themes and sensual style. Read more here.

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