Composer |
Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre |
|---|---|
Key |
F major |
Meter |
2/2 |
Length |
25 measures |
French text |
English translation |
|---|---|
Un Pastre; une Bergère |
a Shepherd, a Shepherdess |
Les Rossignols dés que le jour commence, |
The Nightingales from the dawn of the day, |
Chantent l’amour qui les anime tous; |
Sing to the love that animates them all; |
Si les oiseaux cédent à sa puissance |
If the birds yield to its power |
Quel mal faisons-nous |
What wrong do we |
D’aimer à sentir ses coups ! |
In enjoying its strokes ! |
Si leur instinct est rempli d’innocence, |
If their instinct is full of innocence, |
Quel mal faisons-nous |
What wrong do we |
De suivre un penchant si doux ? |
In following such a tender impulse ? |
Heureux troupeau paissez sur la verdure |
Happy herd, abide on the greenery |
Pour vous l’Amour prodigue ses faveurs; |
To you Love offers its favors; |
Vous n’avez point de lois que la Nature, |
You have no laws but Nature, |
Les biens, les Grandeurs |
Possessions, Aspirations |
Ne sauraient troubler vos cœurs; |
Could never trouble your hearts; |
Jamais chez vous la raison ne murmure, |
Reason never whispers among you, |
Les biens, les Grandeurs, |
Possessions, Aspirations |
Ne vallent pas vos douceurs. |
Are not worth your delights. |
Veronika Anissimova |
“Jacquet de La Guerre’s original score was most likely written in five parts, after the tradition established by Lully. As only Ballard’s partition reduite survives, however, only the upper two instrumental parts and the basse continue are extant.” IMSLP
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