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Paul Verlaine: A Bilingual Selection of his Verse

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Paul Verlaine (1844-1896) was a renowned French poet who played a pivotal role in the development of the Symbolist movement and the Decadent movement of the late 19th century. His distinctive style, characterized by musicality, evocative imagery, and a profound exploration of human emotions, has left a lasting impact on French literature.

Paul Verlaine: A Bilingual Selection of His Verse

by BETSY RAMSEY

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	424 pages

Early Life and Influences

Born in Metz, France, Verlaine's childhood was marked by emotional turmoil and instability. His father, a military officer, was often absent, and his mother struggled with mental illness. These experiences deeply influenced Verlaine's later writings, which often explored themes of alienation, loneliness, and the search for beauty amidst suffering.

Verlaine's early literary influences included the Parnassian poets, who emphasized formal perfection and objective description. However, he soon rejected their rigid aesthetics and embraced the more subjective and suggestive style of the Symbolists, who sought to evoke emotions and ideas through symbols and musicality.

Major Works and Poetic Style

Verlaine published several notable collections of poetry, including Poèmes saturniens (1866),Fêtes galantes (1869),and Romances sans paroles (1874). His work is characterized by a distinctive combination of musicality, vivid imagery, and a deep exploration of human emotions.

Verlaine's use of language is highly sensory and evocative. He employs rich and evocative adjectives, as well as musical devices such as alliteration and assonance, to create a haunting and atmospheric effect. His themes often revolve around love, loss, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

Later Years and Legacy

Verlaine's personal life was marked by both triumphs and tragedies. He had a turbulent marriage with fellow poet Mathilde Mauté, which ended in violence and separation. He also struggled with alcoholism and poverty in his later years.

Despite his personal struggles, Verlaine's literary legacy remains significant. He is considered one of the most important figures in French Symbolism, and his work has been praised for its originality, musicality, and profound insight into the human condition.

A Bilingual Selection of Paul Verlaine's Verse

The following is a bilingual selection of some of Verlaine's most famous poems, presented with the original French text and English translations:

"Clair de lune" (Moonlight)

Clair de lune

Votre âme est un paysage choisi Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques Jouant du luth et dansant et quasi Tristes sous leurs déguisements fantasques.

Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur L'amour en fuite et le temps qui se meurt, Votre âme est un paysage choisi Dont j'ai deux fois vainqueur traversé le bois Et dont les pins, palmes, et cyprès Sont les mâts de mon navire qui presse!

Moonlight

Your soul is a landscape chosen Where enchanting masques and bergamasks roam, Playing lutes and dancing, almost Sad beneath their curious disguises.

All while singing with a minor strain Of fleeting love and the dying time, Your soul is a landscape chosen Whose forest I've traversed twice, victorious, Whose pines, palms, and cypresses Mast the ship that hurries me!

"Chanson d'automne" (Autumn Song)

Chanson d'automne

Les sanglots longs Des violons De l'automne Blessent mon cœur D'une langueur Monotone.

Tout suffocant Et blême, quand Sonne l'heure, Je me souviens Des jours anciens Et je pleure;

Et je m'en vais Au vent mauvais Qui m'emporte Deçà, delà, Pareil à la Feuille morte.

Autumn Song

Long drawn-out sobs Of violins Of Autumn Wound my heart With a languid Monotony.

Stifling and pale, when The clock strikes, I remember Days of old And I weep;

And I wander off In the evil wind That carries me away Here and there, Like the Dead leaf.

Paul Verlaine was a visionary poet who left an indelible mark on French literature. His distinctive style, characterized by musicality, vivid imagery, and a profound exploration of human emotions, continues to resonate with readers today. This bilingual selection of his verse provides an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and depth of his work in both its original French and English translations.

Paul Verlaine: A Bilingual Selection of His Verse

by BETSY RAMSEY

5 out of 5