Wednesday, July 25, 2007

beaux rêves


As part of my work for Marie Antoinette (see post below) I had to translate a lullaby, which had formerly been translated from French into English, back into French. And make it rhyme. Here is what I came up with. I worked from a poetic English translation found at kididdles, where you can also find the tune. Because Louis sang it to Marie, the adjectives are in feminine form.
Un rêve joli t’attend
Quand le sommeil t’en prend
Beaux rêves
Venez à ma petite
Beaux rêves
Venez à ma petite

La nuit approche, le jour finit
Endors-toi, petite chérie
Beaux rêves, etc.

Tes jeux t’ont fatigué
T’as couru toute la journée
Beaux rêves, etc.

Endors-toi, car c’est la nuit
Calmes-toi, chérie, pas de bruit
Beaux rêves, etc.

Grande et forte tu deviendras
Si tu dors tout de suite cette fois
Beaux rêves, etc.
And the literal meaning:
A pretty dream awaits you
When sleep takes you
Beautiful dreams
Come to my little one
Beautiful dreams
Come to my little one

Night approaches, day ends
Go to sleep, little darling
Beautiful dreams, etc.

Your games tired you out
You ran all day
Beautiful dreams, etc.

Go to sleep, for it is night
Calm down, darling, make no noise
Beautiful dreams, etc.

You'll become big and strong
If you sleep immediately this time
Beautiful dreams, etc.
Image: Le berceau (The Cradle) by Berthe Morisot
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2 comments:

  1. RobAugust 11, 2014 at 3:37 PM

    Marissa,

    I'm currently dramaturging a production of Marie Antoinette at Stages Rep in Houston. Would like to use this in the actor's packet (and would like to know more about where it came from). I'd greatly appreciate it if you would email me at rob.kimbro@gmail.com

    Thanks,

    Rob

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  2. AnonymousJune 27, 2017 at 7:45 PM

    Hi Marissa--

    Thanks so much for posting this work! I, like Rob above, am prepping dramaturgical materials for a production of MA at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. Haven't had much luck finding a recording of the original lullabye thus far, though it's early in my search. Any chance you could point me in the right direction? Would so appreciate it if you have the time. You can reach me at tim@freefalltheatre.com

    Thanks so much!
    Timothy

    ReplyDelete