To the end of the trail / Richard Hovey [electronic text]

SONGS FROM THE FRENCH OF MAETERLINCK

I.
[Elle l'enchaîna dans une grotte]

SHE fettered her in a cavern dour, She set a mark upon the door, The maid forgot the light of day And the key fell into the sea.

She waited all the summer days, She waited seven years or more. Each year a passer passed the door.

She waited all the winter days, And as she waited her golden hair Remembered how the light was fair.

It sought it out, it found it out, It glided out between the stones And lighted all the rocks about.

A passer passed again one night, He did not understand the light And dared not draw near where it shone.

He thought it was a symbol fey, He thought it was a golden rain, He thought it was an angel's play, He turned away and passed again.

II.
[Et s'il revenait un jour]

AND if some day he come back, What should he be told? —— Tell him he was waited for Till my heart was cold.…

And if he ask me yet again, Not recognizing me? — — Speak him fair and sisterly; His heart breaks, maybe.…

And if he asks me where you are, What shall I reply? — — Give him my golden ring; Make no reply.…

And if he ask me why the hall Is left desolate? — Show him the unlit lamp And the open gate.…

And if he should ask me, then, How you fell asleep? — — Tell him that I smiled, for fear Lest he should weep.…

III.
[Ils ont tué trois petites filles]

THEY have killed three little girls, to see What there was in their little hearts.

The first heart was full of happiness: And three years where'er its blood had flowed, Three serpents hissed along the road.

The second heart was full of gentleness: And three years where'er the blood had flowed, Three lambs bleated in the road.

The third heart was full of wretchedness: And three years where'er the blood had flowed, Three archangels watched beside the road.

IV.
[Les filles aux yeux bandés]

THE maids with banded eyes (Take off the golden bands) The maids with banded eyes Seek out their destinies.

The eyes are wide at noon (Guard well the golden bands) The eyes are wide at noon Ah! Palace of the plains…

They greeted life with mirth (Put back the golden bands) They greeted life with mirth And never ventured forth…

V.
[Les trois sœurs aveugles]

THE three blind sisters (Hope we as of old) The three blind sisters With their lamps of gold…

Climbed the tower-stair (They and you and we) Climbed the tower-stair And seven days waited there.…

"Oh," the first one said (Hope we as of old) "Oh," the first one said, "Is it the lamp that sighs?"…

"Oh," the second said (They and you and we) "Oh," the second said, "'Tis the King draws near."…

"No," the holiest said (Hope we as of old) "No," the holiest said, "The lights are all dead."…

VI
[On est venu dire]

SOMEONE came to say (Child, I am afraid) Someone came to say He would go away.…

With my lamp alight (Child, I am afraid) With my lamp alight I went through the night.…

And at the first door (Child, I am afraid) And at the first door The flame shook with fright.…

At the second door (Child, I am afraid) At the second door The flame spoke outright.…

And at the third door (Child, I am afraid) And at the third door The light burned no more.…

VII.
[Les sept filles d'Orlamonde]

THE seven daughters of Orlamonde, When the Fairy was no more, The seven daughters of Orlamonde Went seeking for the door.…

They lit their seven lamps and sought; Up the tower went they; They opened thrice two hundred doors, But nowhere found the day.…

They came unto the sounding vaults That lead down to the sea; And there above a bolted door They found a golden key.

They saw the ocean through the chinks, They feared they should have died; And beat against the bolted door But dared not fling it wide.…

VIII.
[Quand il est sorti]

WHEN he had gone (I heard the door) When he had gone She had smiled…

But when he returned (I heard the lamp) But when he returned Another was there…

And I have seen Death (I heard his soul) And I have seen Death Who waits once more…

IX.
[Vous avez allumé les lampes]

WHY have you lighted all the links — I see the sun in the garden! — Why have you lighted all the links? I see the sunlight through the chinks! Open the doors to the garden!

— The keys that ope the doors are lost, And we must wait, and we must wait; The three keys fell from the tower wall And we must wait and we must wait And we must wait till the morrows.

The morrows will open wide the doors, The forest hides the locks, The forest burns about our walls. It is the light of the autumn leaves That shines on the sills of the doors —

— The morrows weary on the way; The morrows fear — they fear as well. The morrows will not come this way; The morrows die — they die as well, And we as well shall die.…

X.
[J'ai cherché trente ans, mes sœurs]

THIRTY years I sought, my sisters, For his hiding place, — Thirty years I walked, my sisters, And I found no trace…

Thirty years I walked, my sisters, Far as my feet may bear… He is everywhere, my sisters, Yet exists nowhere…

Bitter is the hour, O my sisters, I have missed the goal. The evening dies, too, my sisters, I am sick in my soul…

You are but sixteen, O my sisters, Go far from this place. Take up my burden, my sisters, And seek ever his face.