Les roses d'Ispahan dans leur gaîne de mousse,
Les jasmins de Mossoul, les fleurs de l'oranger
Ont un parfum moin frais, ont une odeur moins douce,
O blanche Leïlah! que ton souffle léger.
Ta lèvre est de corail, et ton rire léger
Sonne mieux que l'eau vive et d'une voix plus douce,
Mieux que le vent joyeux qui berce l'oranger,
Mieux que l'oiseau qui chante au bord d'un nid de mousse.
O Leïlah! depuis que de leur vol léger
Tous les baisers ont fui de ta lèvre si douce,
Il n'est plus de parfum dans le pâle oranger,
Ni de célèste arome aux roses dans leur mousse.
Oh! que ton jeune amour, ce papillon léger,
Revienne vers mon cur d'une aile prompte et douce,
Et qu'il parfume encor la fleur de l'oranger,
Les roses d'Ispahan dans leur gaîne de mousse!
The roses of Ispahan in their sheaths of moss,
The jasmines of Mossoul, the flowers of the orange-tree
have a fragrance less fresh, have a scent less sweet,
o pale Leïlah, than your soft breath!
Your lips are of coral, and your soft laugh sings better
than the running water and with a sweeter voice,
better than the joyous breeze which sways the orange-tree,
better than the bird which sings on the edge of a nest of moss.
O Leïlah, since, upon a quick flight,
all the kisses have fled from your sweet lips,
there is no more fragrance in the pale orange-tree,
nor celestial aroma on the roses in their moss.
Oh, may your young love, that fickle butterfly,
return to my heart with a quick and sweet wing,
a may it again perfume the flower of the orange-tree,
the roses of Ispahan in their sheaths of moss!
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
This song is included in the Singing in French vol2 anthology and a score and accompaniment can be downloaded from the site shop in several keys.
Buy a copy of Singing in French - volume 2:
Edition for higher voices:
Edition for lower voices:
Please be aware that some of the original French texts on this site are still in copyright. The translations are offered here for study purposes.
Students and not-for-profit events are always welcome to use the transaltions for their programmes free of charge. I am however glad to be told when they are being used! Send me an email and do share the site with friends and colleagues! If seeking to use them for commercial purposes please also consider making a small donation towards the upkeep of the site: