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C'est l'extase langoureuse
Text by Paul Verlaine (1844-1896) Set by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) from Ariettes Oubliées #1; Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), op. 58, #5, from Cinq mélodies de Venise; Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), Le vent dans la plaine; Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859-1922), op. 32, #2
C'est l'extase langoureuse,
It-is (the)-ecstasy languorous, (It is the languorous ecstasy,)
C'est la fatigue amoureuse,
it-is (the) fatigue amorous, (it is the amorous fatigue,)
C'est tous les frissons des bois
it-is all the tremors of-the forest
Parmi l'étreinte des brises,
amid the-embrace of-the breezes, (in the breezes' embrace,)
C'est, vers les ramures grises,
it-is, around the branches grey,
Le chœur des petites voix.
the choir of little voices.
O le frêle et frais murmure!
Oh the frail and fresh murmuring!
Cela gazouille et susurre,
that twittering and whispering,
Cela ressemble au cri (bruit) doux
() that resembles the cry (sound) soft (that resembles the soft cry)
C’est l’extase langoureuse (Verlaine) Page 1 of 2
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Que l'herbe agitée expire...
that the-grass ruffled exhales… (exhaled by the ruffled grass…)
Tu dirais, sous l'eau qui vire,
You might-say, under the-water which swirls, (You might say, under the swirling water,)
Le roulis sourd des cailloux.
the rolling muffled-sound of-the pebbles. (it was the muffled sound of the rolling pebbles.)
Cette âme qui se lamente
This soul which itself mourns (This soul which mourns)
En (Et) cette plainte dormante
() in (and) this lament dormant/stilled (in this subdued lament,)
C'est la nôtre, n'est-ce pas?
. it-is the ours, is-it not?
La mienne, dis, |et la tienne,
The mine, say, and the yours, (Mine, say, and yours,)
Dont s'exhale l'humble antiennep
from-which exhales the-humble anthem (which breathes out the humble anthem)
Par ce tiède soir, tout bas?
on this warm evening, very softly?
