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Fauré - Nocturne

Nocturne

Fauré (1886)

La nuit, sur le grand mystère,
Entrouvre ses écrins bleus:
Autant de fleurs sur la terre,
Que d'étoiles dans les cieux!

On voit ses ombres dormantes
S'éclairer, à tous moments,
Autant par les fleurs charmantes
Que par les astres charmants.

Moi, ma nuit au sombre voile
N'a, pour charme et pour clarté,
Qu'une fleur et qu'une étoile:
Mon amour et ta beauté!

Villiers de L'Isle-Adam

Nocturne

 

The night, above the great mystery,
half opens its blue jewel caskets:
as many flowers on earth
as stars in the heavens!

One sees its sleeping shadows
light up, at every moment,
as much by the charming flowers
as by the charming stars.

As for me, my night with its dark veil
has, for charm and for brightness,
but one flower and one star:
my love and your beauty!

© translated by Christopher Goldsack

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