Le ruban rose
text: Augusta Holmès (1847–1903)
translation: Suzanne Yeo
| Celui que j’aime est si mignon Que les femmes en sont marries; Il n’a ni chasses et prairies; Pas même le moindre pignon! | He whom I love is so pretty That he blends in with the ladies; He has neither hunting grounds nor meadows; Not even the simplest roof! |
| Il est de très bonne noblesse, Et plus brave que ses aieux! Il est jaloux, un rien le blesse! Ses étoiles, ce sont mes yeux. | He comes from a very noble family, And is braver than his ancestors! He is jealous, the slightest thing wounds him! His stars are my eyes. |
| Et puis, c’est un charmant visage Fier et tendre, bien à mon gré. Il ressemble à l’Amour poudré! C’est pourquoi j’en ai fait mon page! | And what’s more, he has a charming face, Proud and tender, just to my taste. He looks like a powdered Cupid! That’s why I made him my page! |
| J’étais en grand habit de Cour, Fard et mouches, satins, dentelle; Celui pour qui je me fais belle, A mes genoux parlait d’amour. | I was in a grand court dress, All made up, with my moles and rouge, satins and lace; He for whom I dolled myself up Was speaking of love at my knees. |
| Et mon collier de ruban rose, Je ne sais comment, s’envola! Il faut cueilli, comme une Rose Par le Prince qui passait là! | And my choker of pink ribbon, I don’t know how, but it flew away! It was plucked, like a rose, By the Prince who was passing by! |
| “Voici votre ruban, Madame; Reprenez-le contre un baiser! Gardez-vous bien de refuser: En ce cas votre amant rend l’âme.” | “Here is your ribbon, My Lady; Take it back for a kiss! Be careful not to refuse, If you do, your lover may give up his soul.” |
| Mon jeune ami, plein de fureur, Dit: “Madame n’est point en cause! Il m’appartient, ce ruban rose, Et je vous tuerai, Monseigneur!” | My young friend, full of rage, Said: “Madame is not in question! It belongs to me, this pink ribbon, And I will kill you, My Lord!” |
| Et je le vis, au clair de Lune, Si joli pendant le combat, Qu’il fut choisi par la Fortune Pour que le Prince succombat! | And I saw him, in the moonlight, So handsome during the fight, That he was chosen by Fate, So that the Prince succumbed! |
| “Il faut me consoler, Marquise,” Dit mon page, triste à demi; “J’ai tué mon meilleur ami!” C’est pourquoi je lui fus exquise! | “You have to console me, Marquise,” My page said, half-sadly; “I have killed my best friend!” And that’s why I was so delightful to him! |
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