Original | Versione inglese di Oliver Bernard (1962)
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LE DORMEUR DU VAL | THE SLEEPER IN THE VALLEY |
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C'est un trou de verdure où chante une rivière, | It is a green hollow where a stream gurgles, |
Accrochant follement aux herbes des haillons | Crazily catching silver rags of itself on the grasses ; |
D'argent ; où le soleil, de la montagne fière, | Where the sun shines from the proud mountain : |
Luit : c'est un petit val qui mousse de rayons. | It is a little valley bubbling over with light. |
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Un soldat jeune, bouche ouverte, tête nue, | A young soldier, open-mouthed, bare-headed, |
Et la nuque baignant dans le frais cresson bleu, | With the nape of his neck bathed in cool blue cresses, |
Dort ; il est étendu dans l'herbe, sous la nue, | Sleeps ; he is stretched out on the grass, under the sky, |
Pâle dans son lit vert où la lumière pleut. | Pale on his green bed where the light falls like rain. |
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Les pieds dans les glaïeuls, il dort. Souriant comme | His feet in the yellow flags, he lies sleeping. Smiling as |
Sourirait un enfant malade, il fait un somme : | A sick child might smile, he is having a nap : |
Nature, berce-le chaudement : il a froid. | Cradle him warmly, Nature : he is cold. |
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Les parfums ne font pas frissonner sa narine ; | No odour makes his nostrils quiver ; |
Il dort dans le soleil, la main sur sa poitrine, | He sleeps in the sun, his hand on his breast |
Tranquille. Il a deux trous rouges au côté droit. | At peace. There are two red holes in his right side. |
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