This translation was done by David Samuel Barr, who writes:
"In July 1997 I did my own translation of it when I found that the Evans version was unsatisfactory. I tried to be true to the original text, without any attempt to fit the English lyrics to the notes, although in some instances I had to adjust my text to the idiomatic intent rather than slavish literalism. Extreme examples of this appear in [brackets] where a literal translation of the French words simply made no sense in English and I had to paraphrase (I'm sure others more fluent in French than I can resolve these issues, as well as improve on my efforts in general)."
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Belle qui tiens ma vie Captive dans tes yeux, Qui m'as l'ame ravie D'un souris gracieux, Viens tot me secourir Ou me faudra mourir. |
Beautiful one who holds my life Captive in your eyes, Who has ravished my soul With a gracious smile. Come to my aid Or I must die. |
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Pourquoi fuis tu, mignarde, Si je suis pres de toi? Quand tes yeux je regarde Je me perds dedans moi, Car tes perfection Changent mes actions |
Why do you flee, dainty one, If I am near you? When I behold your eyes I am lost inside myself Because your perfection [so affects my behaviour]. |
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Tes beautes et ta graces Et tes divins propos Ont echauffe la glace Qui me gelait les os, Et ont rempli mon coeur D'une amoureuse ardeur. |
Your beauty and your grace And your divine ways Have melted the ice Which was freezing my bones And have filled my heart With a loving ardour. |
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Mon ame voulait etre Libre de passion, Mais l'amour s'est fait maitre De mes affections Et a mis sous sa loi Et mon coeur et ma foi. |
My soul wanted to be Free of passion, But love became master Of my affections And put under its law My heart and my faith. |
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Approche donc ma belle, Approche toi mon bien, Ne me sois plus rebelle Puisque mon coeur est tien, Pour mon mal appaiser Donne moi un baiser. |
Come near, my lovely one, Come near, my [dear one], Do not resist me further For my heart is yours, To relieve my ills Give me a kiss. |
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Je meurs, mon Angelette, Je meurs en te baisant Ta bouche tant doucette Va mon bien ravissant A ce coup mes esprits Sont tous d'amour epris. |
I die, my Little Angel, I die when kissing Your mouth so sweet. My very lovely one, With that touch my spirits Are completely lifted in love. |
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Plutot on verra l'onde Contremont reculer, Et plutot l'oeil du monde Cessera de bruler, Que l'amour qui m'epoint Decroisse d'un seul point. |
Sooner will waves Flow backwards And sooner will the moon Cease to shine Before the love which conquered me Wanes a single iota. |
If you have any comments or suggestions about this translation, or about this site in general, please e-mail me at algernon@arach.net.au.