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Victor Hugo - Puisque j`ai mis ma lèvre (Since I Have Placed My Lip)
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Puisque j`ai mis ma lèvre à ta coupe encor pleine; 
Puisque j`ai dans tes mains posé mon front pâli;
Puisque j`ai respiré parfois la douce haleine 
De ton âme, parfum dans l`ombre enseveli;

Puisqu`il me fut donné de t`entendre me dire 
Les mots où se répand le coeur mystérieux; 
Puisque j`ai vu pleurer, puisque j` ai vu sourire 
Ta bouche sur ma bouche et tes yeux sur mes yeux;

Puisque j`ai vu briller sur ma tête ravie 
Un rayon de ton astre, hélas! voilé toujours; 
Puisque j`ai vu tomber dans l`onde de ma vie 
Une feuille de rose arrachée à tes jours;

Je puis maintenant dire aux rapides années: 
- Passez! passez toujours! je n`ai plus à vieillir! 
Allez-vous-en avec vos fleurs toutes fanées; 
J`ai dans l`âme une fleur que nul ne peut cueillir!

Votre aile en le heurtant ne fera rien répandre 
Du vase où je m`abreuve et que j`ai bien rempli. 
Mon âme a plus de feu que vous n`avez de cendre! 
Mon coeur a plus d`amour que vous n`avez d`oubli!



From Thy Sweet Lips

Since from thy star one cheering ray
  My heaven hath lighted with its beam—
Since one bright rose leaf from thy day
  Hath fallen on my life`s dark steam—
And o`er my spirit, like a spell,
  Thy voice hath poured its gentle ruth;
And I have drank of love`s charmed well,
  From thy sweet lips, perpetual youth—

I say, as these swift years depart,
  Haste, with your faded garlands by—
There blooms a flower within my heart
  That none may gather—ne`er may die!
Ye may not dash the cup of soul
  That I now quaff to sweet excess—
There lies more memory in the bowl,
  Than time hath of forgetfulness!

Translated by Mary E. Hewitt



Since I Have Placed My Lip
 
Since I have placed my lip 
To your still brimming cup, 
Since my pale brow has leaned 
Into your sheltering hand, 
Since I at times have caught
The hidden fragrance of your heart—

Since I have heard you say 
Words of love`s mystery, 
Since I have known your kiss 
Smile upon mine and press 
Against my own and seen
Your eyes in tears mirroring mine—

Since one ray from your star 
So often veiled too far 
From me has shone across 
The gap that severs us, 
Since you have let me seize
One rose-leaf of your sweeter days—

I can tell the swift years, 
"Pass by. Pass with your cares. 
I will not age. Take all 
Your withered flowers that fall 
And go. Within my soul
There is a flower none can steal.

Let time`s wing brush the jar
I`ve filled to the brim nor 
Spill one drop. I`ve more flame 
In my heart now than time 
Has ash and I possess
More love than time forgetfulness."

Translated by Harry Guest
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