| Madame Arthur est une femme
| Madame Arthur is a woman
|
| Qui fit parler, parler, parler, parler d’elle longtemps,
| Who made talk, talk, talk, talk about her for a long time,
|
| Sans journaux, sans rien, sans réclame
| Without newspapers, without anything, without advertising
|
| Elle eut une foule d’amants,
| She had a crowd of lovers,
|
| Chacun voulait être aimé d’elle,
| Everyone wanted to be loved by her,
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| Chacun la courtisait, pourquoi?
| Everyone courted her, why?
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| C’est que sans être vraiment belle,
| It's that without being really beautiful,
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| Elle avait un je ne sais quoi !
| She had a je ne sais quoi!
|
| Madame Arthur est une femme
| Madame Arthur is a woman
|
| Qui fit parler, parler, parler, parler d’elle longtemps,
| Who made talk, talk, talk, talk about her for a long time,
|
| Sans journaux, sans rien, sans réclame
| Without newspapers, without anything, without advertising
|
| Elle eut une foule d’amants,
| She had a crowd of lovers,
|
| Madame Arthur est une femme
| Madame Arthur is a woman
|
| Qui fit parler d’elle longtemps.
| Who talked about her for a long time.
|
| Sa taille était fort ordinaire,
| His height was very ordinary,
|
| Ses yeux petits mais sémillants,
| Her small but sparkling eyes,
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| Son nez retroussé, sa voix claire,
| His upturned nose, his clear voice,
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| Ses pieds cambrés et frétillants
| Her arched and wiggling feet
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| Bref, en regardant sa figure,
| In short, looking at his face,
|
| Rien ne vous mettait en émoi;
| Nothing upset you;
|
| Mais par derrière sa tournure
| But from behind her figure
|
| Promettait un je ne sais quoi !
| Promised a je ne sais quoi!
|
| Ses amants lui restaient fidèles,
| Her lovers remained faithful to her,
|
| C’est elle qui les renvoyait
| She was the one who sent them away
|
| Elle aimait les ardeurs nouvelles,
| She loved new ardor,
|
| Un vieil amour lui déplaisait
| An old love displeased him
|
| Et chacun, le chagrin dans l'âme,
| And each, sorrow in the soul,
|
| De son cœur n’ayant plus l’emploi,
| From his heart no longer having use,
|
| Disait: hélas ! | Said: alas! |
| une autre femme
| another woman
|
| N’aura pas son je ne sais quoi !
| Will not have its je ne sais quoi!
|
| Il fallait la voir à la danse;
| You had to see her at the dance;
|
| Son entrain était sans égal
| His drive was unparalleled
|
| Par ses mouvements, sa prestance,
| By his movements, his bearing,
|
| Elle était la Reine du bal
| She was the prom queen
|
| Au cavalier lui faisant face
| To the rider facing him
|
| Son pied touchait le nez, ma foi,
| His foot touched the nose, well,
|
| Chacun applaudissait sa grâce
| Everyone applauded his grace
|
| Et surtout son je ne sais quoi !
| And especially his je ne sais quoi!
|
| De quoi donc vivait cette dame?
| What was this lady living on?
|
| Montrant un grand train de maison,
| Showing a great house train,
|
| Courant au vaudeville, au drame,
| Fluent in vaudeville, drama,
|
| Rien qu'à l’avant-scène dit-on
| Only at the forefront they say
|
| Elle voyait pour l’ordinaire
| She usually saw
|
| Venir son terme sans effroi,
| To come to an end without fear,
|
| Car alors son propriétaire
| For then its owner
|
| Admirait son je ne sais quoi !
| Admired his je ne sais quoi!
|
| Oh ! | Oh ! |
| femme qui cherchez à faire
| woman looking to do
|
| Des conquêtes matin et soir,
| Morning and evening conquests,
|
| En vain vous passez pour vous plaire
| In vain you pass to please you
|
| Des heures à votre miroir,
| Hours at your mirror,
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| Elégance, grâce mutine,
| Elegance, mischievous grace,
|
| Regard, soupir de bon aloi,
| Look, good-natured sigh,
|
| Velours, parfums et crinoline,
| Velvet, perfumes and crinoline,
|
| Rien ne vaut un je ne sais quoi ! | Nothing beats a je ne sais quoi! |