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Thread: help me to translate victor hugo "CHANSON DE CELLE QUI N’A PAS PARLÉ"

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    Default help me to translate victor hugo "CHANSON DE CELLE QUI N’A PAS PARLÉ"

    CHANSON DE CELLE QUI N’A PAS PARLÉ


    L'énigme ne dit pas son mot.

    Les flèches d'or ont des piqûres

    Dont on ne parle pas tout haut.

    Souvent, sous les branches obscures,



    Plus d'un tendre oiseau se perdit.

    Vous m'avez souvent dit : je t'aime !

    Et je ne vous l'ai jamais dit.

    Vous prodiguiez le cri suprême,

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    SONG OF THE ONE WHO DID NOT SPEAK/Lit:That Song that has not spoken

    The riddle does not speak it's word (implied : word/secret i.e reveal it's secret)

    Golden arrows have barbs ( Lit: 'have stings')

    Of which we do of speak aloud.

    Often beneath dark branches

    more than the tender bird is lost.

    You've often l told me: I love you!

    and I have never said it to you.

    Spendthrift your ultimate shout


    I assume 'golden arrows' refer to the arrows of love, a secret which the speaker dares not utter. His lover on the other hand is progdigal with their declarations.... 'prodiguiez' can mean prodigal in the sense of generous, lavish, unstinting. 'the supreme cry/shout' I assume is such an open declaration of their feelings, but could also be a very subtle allusion to sex....(maybe?)
    It's only part of a longer poem cycle 'Toute la Lyre IV' from 1875....
    Last edited by bluejacket; 05-02-2012 at 12:26 PM.

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    Default merci mille fois

    Quote Originally Posted by bluejacket View Post
    SONG OF THE ONE WHO DID NOT SPEAK/Lit:That Song that has not spoken

    The riddle does not speak it's word (implied : word/secret i.e reveal it's secret)

    Golden arrows have barbs ( Lit: 'have stings')

    Of which we do of speak aloud.

    Often beneath dark branches

    more than the tender bird is lost.

    You've often l told me: I love you!

    and I have never said it to you.

    Spendthrift your ultimate shout


    I assume 'golden arrows' refer to the arrows of love, a secret which the speaker dares not utter. His lover on the other hand is progdigal with their declarations.... 'prodiguiez' can mean prodigal in the sense of generous, lavish, unstinting. 'the supreme cry/shout' I assume is such an open declaration of their feelings, but could also be a very subtle allusion to sex....(maybe?)
    It's only part of a longer poem cycle 'Toute la Lyre IV' from 1875....
    *

    merci mille fois pour votre aide fryatte

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