Au temps heureux (Jacques Arcadelt)

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(Posted 2017-01-23) CPDL #42783:

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2017-01-23). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 53 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Reformatting of #11102, with Alto stave changed to treble clef.

(Posted 2006-02-27) CPDL #11102:

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2006-02-27). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 29 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.

General Information

Title: Au temps heureux
Composer: Jacques Arcadelt
Lyricist: Mellin de Saint-Gelais

Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Chanson

Language: French
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1539 in Livre 6: 27 chansons a 4 (Attaingnant), no. 17
2nd published: 1549 (November) in Second livre du recueil (Nicolas Du Chemin), no. 16
3rd published: 1549 (December) in Second livre contenant xxix chansons esleves (Attaingnant), no. 19
4th published: 1554 in Premier recueil de chansons (Le Roy & Ballard), no. 19
5th published: 1561 in Premier recueil des recueilz de chansons (Le Roy & Ballard), no. 15
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

French text

Au temps heureux que ma jeune ignorance
Receut l'enfant que des dieux est le maistre,
Vous cognoissant qu'el na faisoit que maistre,
Voulastes bien le nourir d'esperance:
Na pour assay que je face ou effort
Possible m'est loster da sa demeure,
car plus que moy il est devenu fort;
Malgré moy donc il fault qu'el y demeure,
Mais maugre luy aussi j'ay ce confort,
Qu'il sortira au moins mais que je meure.

English translation

In happy days of youthful ignorance
When I bore the infant master of the gods,
You, knowing a newborn would face stiff odds,
Rightly wanted him suckled on confidence.
Now, no matter what I might do or try,
There’s no way to oust him from his abode,
For he has become more pow’rful than I;
In spite of me, I know he will freeload,
But in spite of him, I’m comforted by
Knowing he’ll leave when my body is cold.

Translation by Thomas Daughton