Phyllis
French source:
Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle
Mon vin des coteaux d’Albe a lentement mûri;
Il faut ceindre d’acanthe et de myrte fleuri,
Phyllis, ta tresse déroulée.
L’anis brûle a l’autel, et d’un pied diligent
Tous viennent couronnés de verveine pieuse;
Et mon humble maison étincelle joyeuse
Aux reflets des coupes d’argent.
Ô Phyllis, c’est le jour de Vénus, et je t’aime!
Entends-moi! Téléphus brûle et soupire ailleurs;
Il t’oublie, et je t’aime, et nos jours les meilleurs
Vont rentrer dans la nuit suprême.
C’est toi qui fleuriras en mes derniers beaux jours:
Je ne changerai plus, voici la saison mûre.
Chante! les vers sont doux quand ta voix les murmure,
Ô belle fin de mes amours!
Phyllis
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
My Alban Hills wine has been slowly maturing;
We must garland with acanthus and flowering myrtle,
O Phyllis, your unfastened locks.
Anise burns on the altar, and all hasten along,
Crowned with godly verbena;
And my humble abode sparkles with joy
At the reflection of silver goblets.
0 Phyllis, it is the day of Venus, and I love you!
Listen! Telephus burns and sighs for another;
He forgets you, and I love you, and our finest days
Shall return in our final night.
It is you who shall blossom in the fair days left me:
I shall change no more, the ripe season is here.
Sing! Poetry is sweet when uttered by you,
O fair conclusion of my loves!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Phyllis
French source:
Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle
Phyllis
English source:
Richard Stokes
Depuis neuf ans et plus dans l’amphore scellé
For nine years and more in the sealed amphora
Mon vin des coteaux d’Albe a lentement mûri;
My Alban Hills wine has been slowly maturing;
Il faut ceindre d’acanthe et de myrte fleuri,
We must garland with acanthus and flowering myrtle,
Phyllis, ta tresse déroulée.
O Phyllis, your unfastened locks.
L’anis brûle a l’autel, et d’un pied diligent
Anise burns on the altar, and all hasten along,
Tous viennent couronnés de verveine pieuse;
Crowned with godly verbena;
Et mon humble maison étincelle joyeuse
And my humble abode sparkles with joy
Aux reflets des coupes d’argent.
At the reflection of silver goblets.
Ô Phyllis, c’est le jour de Vénus, et je t’aime!
0 Phyllis, it is the day of Venus, and I love you!
Entends-moi! Téléphus brûle et soupire ailleurs;
Listen! Telephus burns and sighs for another;
Il t’oublie, et je t’aime, et nos jours les meilleurs
He forgets you, and I love you, and our finest days
Vont rentrer dans la nuit suprême.
Shall return in our final night.
C’est toi qui fleuriras en mes derniers beaux jours:
It is you who shall blossom in the fair days left me:
Je ne changerai plus, voici la saison mûre.
I shall change no more, the ripe season is here.
Chante! les vers sont doux quand ta voix les murmure,
Sing! Poetry is sweet when uttered by you,
Ô belle fin de mes amours!
O fair conclusion of my loves!
Composer
Reynaldo Hahn
Reynaldo Hahn was a French composer, conductor and music critic. He moved to France at the age of three from Venezuela. Read more here.
Poet
Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle
Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle was a French poet of the Parnassian movement. He is traditionally known by his surname only, Leconte de Lisle. Leconte de Lisle was born on the French overseas island of La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. He…