Oh! quand je dors, viens auprès de ma couche,
Comme à Petrarque apparaissait Laura,
Et qu'en passant ton haleine me touche...
Soudain ma bouche
S'entr'ouvrira!
Sur mon front morne où peut-être s'achève
Un songe noir qui trop longtemps dura,
Que ton regard comme un astre se lève...
Soudain mon rêve
Rayonnera!
Puis sur ma lèvre où voltige une flamme,
Éclaire d'amour que Dieu même épura,
Pose un baiser, et d'ange deviens femme...
Soudain mon âme
S'éveillera!
Oh! As I sleep, come to where I rest,
just as Laura used to appear to Petrarch,
and as you pass, let your breath touch me...
Suddenly my mouth
will part!
On my sad brow, where perhaps a black
dream which has lasted too long is ending,
let your gaze arise like a star...
suddenly my dream
will shine!
Then on my lip where a flame flutters,
spark of love which God himself would purify,
place a kiss and from an angel become a woman...
suddenly my soul
will awaken.
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
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