Pas un seul bruit d'insecte ou d'abeille en maraude, Tout dort sous les grands bois accablés de soleil Où le feuillage épais tamise un jour pareil Au velours sombre et doux des mousses d'émeraude. Criblant le dôme obscur, Midi splendide y rôde Et, sur mes cils mi-clos alanguis de sommeil, De mille éclairs furtifs forme un réseau vermeil Qui s'allonge et se croise à travers l'ombre chaude. Vers la gaze de feu que trament les rayons, Vole le frêle essaim des riches papillons Qu'enivrent la lumière et le parfum des sèves; Alors mes doigts tremblants saisissent chaque fil, Et dans les mailles d'or de ce filet subtil, Chasseur harmonieux, j'emprisonne mes rêves.
Confirmed with Merle St. Croix Wright, Translations from José Maria de Heredia, New york: Harold Vinal, Ltd., 1927, p.114
Authorship:
- by José-María de Hérédia (1842 - 1905), "La sieste" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Irène Fuerison (1875 - 1931), "La sieste", op. 28 (1916) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Merle St. Croix Wright) , "Siesta"
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-05-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 112
No hum of insect or marauding bee... The giant trees sleep silent in the sun, Athwart whose foliage the light sifts dun On emerald mosses soft and velvety. Riddling the heavens, noon's keen arrows flee. On closing lids , that swift to slumber run, Amyriad furtive beams a net have spun, That interlace between the light and me. Into the haze they weave of crossing rays Flit the frail butterflies of summer days, Drunk with the sun and honey of the flowers; My fingers, twined in every tenuous thread, With gossamer web of golden meshes spread, Catch happy dreams and snare the careless hours.
Confirmed with Merle St. Croix Wright, Translations from José Maria de Heredia, New york: Harold Vinal, Ltd., 1927, p.115
Authorship:
- by Merle St. Croix Wright (1859 - 1925), "Siesta" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by José-María de Hérédia (1842 - 1905), "La sieste"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-05-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 104