English translation of Theophile Gautier's 'Au cimetière' (from Berlioz's 'Les nuits d’ été')

I translated/versified three of the songs from Les nuits d’ été for a recent concert at the Library. Here's another of the poems in an English version by me. Note that this is meant to be a poetical rendering of the text, adapting Gautier's poetic scheme and the conventions of the time (Berlioz wrote his songs in 1847) as best I could -- but this is not at all meant as a "singable" version to fit Berlioz's music. (And I must say that this text leant itself less easily to an English rendering than the first three I did ...)

CLICK HERE for the entire set of six poems

The 1st, 3rd and last verses of the poem were also set by Henri Duparc in his song, Lamento.

This English version (©2009, E. Lein) may be freely used for nonprofit educational purposes such as student recitals, but please give credit and let me know!

Au cimetière : Claire du lune [Lamento]	At the Cemetery : Moonlight [Lament]
Connaissez-vous la blanche tombe, Où flotte avec un son plaintif L'ombre d'un if? Sur l'if une pâle colombe, Triste et seule au soleil couchant, Chante son chant:	Knowest thou the tomb of white Whither wafts the sound of sorrow Neath th' yew's shadow? Upon the yew a pale dove lights; Sad and lone, to the western sun He sings his song:
Un air maladivement tendre, À la fois charmant et fatal, Qui vous fait mal Et qu'on voudrait toujours entendre; Un air comme en soupire aux cieux L'ange amoureux.	'Tis a morbid though tender air, Both at once charming and baneful, Seeming painful, Yet one we wish ever to hear-- Like a heav'nly air, sighed from above, Of th' angel's love.
On dirait que l'âme éveillée Pleure sous terre à l'unisson De la chanson, Et du malheur d'être oubliée Se plaint dans un roucoulement Bien doucement.	'Twould seem that the soul, now wakened, Weeps from under the earth, along With the dove's song; And mournful of being forsaken Laments with a cooing whimper, softly whispered.
Sur les ailes de la musique On sent lentement revenir Un souvenir. Une ombre, une forme angélique, Passe dans un rayon tremblant, En voile blanc.	On the wings of such music One feels returning yet slowly A memory. A shadow, its form angelic, Passes in a shimmering light, All veiled in white.
Les belles de nuit demicloses Jettent leur parfum faible                             et doux Autour de vous, Et le fantôme aux molles poses Murmure en vous tendant les bras: Tu reviendras!	The moonflower's blossoms, half closed, Breathe out their perfume, faint                                   and sweet, All around thee; And the softly amorphous ghost Murmurs to thee with arms out-thrust: "Return thou must!"
Oh! jamais plus près de la tombe, Je n'irai, quand descend le soir Au manteau noir, Écouter la pâle colombe Chanter sur la pointe de l'if Son chant plaintif.	Oh! Ne'er again would I closely move Nearby that tomb as night lets fall Its black'ning shawl, To listen to the pallid dove Singing there, from atop the yew, His plaintive tune.