Les Elfes - Vashti Vincent had lived in France before the war and in 1935 a book was published featuring a poem by Leconte de Lisle, and illustrated by her....
A (ROUGH) TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK ‘LES ELFES’ BY LECONTE DE LISLE, ILLUSTRATED BY V M VINCENT AND PUBLISHED IN 1935 IN FRANCE.
Note: Leconte de Lisle had died some time before the book was published. This, apparently, is a reprint of the original work.
Note: there also exists an Indian reprint of the original publication from about 1898 of the poem ‘Les Elfes’ by Leconte de Lisle. It was intended to be accompanied by harp, and the musical score for this is included in that book...
​
Elves of the meadows
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The Elves
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
On paths through the woods familiar to deer,
On a black horse, travelled a knight.
His golden spur shines in the dark night;
And, when he crosses a moonbeam,
A changing reflection is seen to shine, on his hair a silver helmet
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
They surrounded him in a light swarm, fluttering speechlessly.
-Bold knight, of the night serene, where are you going so late? Says the young queen. There are bad spirits that haunt the forest; come and dance on the fresh grass.
​
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
​
​
​
​
​
No! My fiancée with the light and gentle eyes is awaited,
and tomorrow we are to be married,
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Let me pass, Elves of the meadows,
Who tread so smoothly on the flowery mosses;
Do not linger with me far from my love,
Because here already is the light of the day.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
Stay, knight. I will give you the magic opal, and the gilded ring,
And, it is most necessary for glory and fortune,
My dress spun by the light of the moon.
No! – said he – Go then! – and with her white finger
She touches the heart of the trembling warrior.
​
​
​
​
​
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
And under the spur the black horse leaves.
He runs, he leaps and goes without delay;
But the knight shudders and leans over;
He sees on the road a white apparition which moves without noise and his arms weaken:
-Elf, spirit, demon, do not stop me!
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
​
Do not stop me, hateful phantom!
I am going to marry my beauty with the gentle eyes.
O my dear husband, the eternal tomb
Will be our wedding bed, she says.
I am dead! – and he, seeing her as well,
Anguish and love fall dead also.
​
​
​
Crowned with thyme and marjoram,
The Elves joyously danced on the plain.
​
​
Printed by Rene Samie
21 23 Rue Teulere
Bordeaux
