A French reading:
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Original French
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Translation
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Charles Baudelaire’s “Le
Vampire” |
Charles Baudelaire’s “The
Vampire” |
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Toi qui, comme un coup de
couteau, |
You, like a piercing knife,
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Dans mon coeur plaintif es
entrée; |
Who entered my grieving heart;
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Toi qui, forte comme un troupeau
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You, strong as a flock of
demons, |
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De démons, vins, folle et
parée, |
Who came adorned in madness.
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De mon esprit humilié
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My shameful spirit
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Faire ton lit et ton
domaine; |
Made into your bed and your
domain; |
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— Infâme à qui je suis lié
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—Vile woman to whom I am bound
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Comme le forçat à la
chaîne, |
As a convict to a chain,
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Comme au jeu le joueur
têtu, |
As a gambler to his
game, |
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Comme à la bouteille
l’ivrogne, |
As a drunkard to his drink,
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Comme aux vermines la
charogne |
As a vermin to his carcass,
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— Maudite, maudite sois-tu!
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—Cursed, cursed—be you!
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J’ai prié le glaive rapide
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I prayed for the swift
sword |
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De conquérir ma liberté,
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To win my freedom,
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Et j’ai dit au poison
perfide |
And asked the treacherous
poison |
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De secourir ma lâcheté.
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To save my cowardice.
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Hélas! le poison et le
glaive |
Alas! The sword and poison
both |
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M’ont pris en dédain et
m’ont dit: |
Have left me disdained and
said: |
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«Tu n’es pas digne qu’on
t’enlève |
“You’re not fit to be lifted
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À ton esclavage maudit,
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from accurséd slavery,
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Imbécile! — de son empire
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Fool! — if our efforts
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Si nos efforts te
délivraient, |
Could free you from her
empire, |
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Tes baisers
ressusciteraient |
Your kisses would revive
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Le cadavre de ton vampire!»
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Your vampire’s carcass!”
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This is a good reading of a different English translation: