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Gounod - Prière

Prière

Gounod (1876)

Ah! si vous saviez comme on pleure
De vivre seul et sans foyers,
Quelquefois devant ma demeure
Vous passeriez.

Si vous saviez ce que fait naître
Dans l'âme triste un pur regard,
Vous regarderiez ma fenêtre
Comme au hazard.

Si vous saviez quel baume apporte
Au cœur la présence d'un cœur,
Vous vous assoiriez sous ma porte
Comme une sœur.

Si vous saviez que je vous aime,
Surtout si vous saviez comment,
Vous entreriez peut-être même
Tout simplement.

Sully Prudhomme

Prayer

 

Ah! If only you knew how one weeps
when living alone and without home,
occasionally in front of my dwelling
you would pass.

If only you knew what is awakened,
in the soul when sad, by a simple glance,
you would look to my window
as if by chance.

If only you knew what comfort is brought
to a heart, by the presence of a heart,
you would sit beneath my doorway
like a sister.

If only you knew that I love you,
especially if you knew how much,
you might even simply
come inside.

© translated by Christopher Goldsack

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