Translation Bakeoff Finalist: Desbordes-Valmore
Les Cloches du Soir
by Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786-1859)
Quand les cloches du soir, dans leur lente volée
Feront descendre l'heure au fond de la vallée,
Si tu n'as pas d'amis ni d'amours près de toi,
Pense à moi! Pense à moi!
Car les cloches du soir avec leur voix sonore
A ton coeur solitaire iront parler encore,
Et l'air fera vibrer ces mots autour de toi:
Aime moi! Aime moi!
Si les cloches du soir éveillent les alarmes,
Demande au temps ému qui passe entre nos larmes,
Le temps dira toujours qu'il n'a trouvé que toi
Près de moi!
Quand les cloches du soir, si tristes dans l'absence,
Tinteront sur mon coeur ivre de ta présence,
Ah ! c'est le chant du ciel qui sonnera pour toi!
Pour toi et pour moi!
Quand les cloches du soir, qui bourdonne et qui pleure,
Ira parler de mort au seuil de ta demeure,
Songe qu'il reste encore une âme près de toi:
Pense à moi! pense à moi!
The Evening Bells
When evening bells, with slow and weary peals,
sound the hour down hollows of the hills,
and you find no friend’s or lover’s company,
then think of me!
Because the evening bells will sing the score,
your solitary heart will speak once more,
and the air will shake you as the words ring free:
Love me! Love me!
But if the evening bells awaken fears,
then think of all the time between our tears
and find yourself, as you search your memory,
so near to me!
When evening bells, across the lonely space,
toll my rapt heart’s chimes, I see your face.
Ah, it is the song of heaven’s harmony
for you and me!
When evening bells, that wail with every breath,
through an open window speak to you of death,
then dream of one who waits for you eternally,
and think of me!
Prose Translation
When the bells of night, with their sluggish peals
sound the hour to the bottom of the valley,
if you have no friends or lovers with you,
think of me! think of me!
Because of the bells of night with their clear voice
your solitary heart will speak again,
and the air will vibrate with words for you:
Love me! Love me!
If the bells of night awaken sudden fears
question tender time that has passed between our tears
and time will always say that he found you
near to me!
When the bells of night, so sad in the absence,
toll on my drunken heart of your presence,
Ah! it is the song of heaven which sounds for you!
For you and me!
When the bells of night, that hum and cry,
speak of death at the threshold of your house,
dream in your rest there is still a soul near you:
Think of me! Think of me!
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