Eleanor Loader
Avondale College in Auckland
Translation (To the Swallow) from French into English of A l’hirondelle by André Chénier
Translation (To the Swallow) from French into English of A l’hirondelle by André Chénier
To the Swallow
Daughter of Pandion, oh young Athenian, The cicada is your prey, barbaric swallow, And provide for your little ones who, still weak, Naked, trembling, in the air but not daring to take flight. You fly; like you the cicada has wings. You sing; it sings. At your worshipping songs The harvester teases you, and the tempestuous autumn In distant climates you hunt both of them. Do you dare carry then, in your cruel joy, To your next without pity that innocent prey? And must it see perish a singer without support Under the bites, alas! Of a singer like him! |
A
l’hirondelle
– André Chénier
Fille de Pandion, ô jeune Athénienne, La cigale est ta proie, hirondelle inhumaine, Et nourrit tes petits qui, débiles encor, Nus, tremblants, dans les airs n’osent prendre l’essor. Tu voles ; comme toi la cigale a des ailes. Tu chantes ; elle chante. A vos chansons fidèles Le moissonneur s’égaye, et l’automne orageux En des climats lointains vous chasse toutes deux. Oses-tu donc porter, dans ta cruelle joie, A ton nid sans pitié cette innocente proie ? Et faut-il voir périr un chanteur sans appui Sous la morsure, hélas ! d’un chanteur comme lui ! |