Songs

Rondel I

by Claude Debussy From Trois Chansons de France (1904) L115

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Text & Translation

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Rondel I
French source: Charles d'Orléans

Le temps a laissié son manteau
De vent, de froidure et de pluye,
Et s’est vestu de broderye,
De soleil raiant, cler et beau.

Il n’y a beste ne oiseau
Qui en son jargon ne chante ou crye:
Le temps a laissié son manteau.

Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau
Portent, en livrée jolye,
Goultes d’argent d’orfaverie.
Chascun s’abille de nouveau,
Le temps a laissié son manteau.

Rondel I
English translation © Richard Stokes

The season has shed its cloak
Of wind and cold and rain
And donned embroidered garments
Of radiant sunshine, clear and fair.

There is no beast nor bird
That in its own tongue does not sing or cry:
The season has shed its cloak.

River, fountain and brook
Wear, as pretty livery,
Drops of silver jewellery.
Each thing clads itself anew,
The season has shed its cloak.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)

Rondel I
French source: Charles d'Orléans

Rondel I
English source: Richard Stokes

Le temps a laissié son manteau
The season has shed its cloak
De vent, de froidure et de pluye,
Of wind and cold and rain
Et s’est vestu de broderye,
And donned embroidered garments
De soleil raiant, cler et beau.
Of radiant sunshine, clear and fair.

Il n’y a beste ne oiseau
There is no beast nor bird
Qui en son jargon ne chante ou crye:
That in its own tongue does not sing or cry:
Le temps a laissié son manteau.
The season has shed its cloak.

Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau
River, fountain and brook
Portent, en livrée jolye,
Wear, as pretty livery,
Goultes d’argent d’orfaverie.
Drops of silver jewellery.
Chascun s’abille de nouveau,
Each thing clads itself anew,
Le temps a laissié son manteau.
The season has shed its cloak.

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

Charles d'Orléans

Charles of Orléans was Duke of Orléans from 1407 and prominent medieval poet.

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