| Quand la neige de décembre voltigeait sur les chaumières
| When the December snow fluttered over the cottages
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| Que de contes, que de fables nous racontait mon grand-père.
| What tales, what fables my grandfather told us.
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| Il savait les mille histoires qui cheminent sur la Terre.
| He knew the thousand stories that walk the Earth.
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| La plus belle était l’image qui chantait un grand amour.
| Most beautiful was the image that sang of great love.
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| C’est du cœur d’un doux poète qu’un matin, elle naquit
| It was from the heart of a sweet poet that one morning she was born
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| La voici, naïve et tendre, aussi fraîche que jadis.
| Here she is, naive and tender, as fresh as ever.
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| En veston jaune et pantalon bleu pervenche
| In yellow jacket and periwinkle blue pants
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| Dans sa calèche, il venait le dimanche.
| In his carriage he came on Sundays.
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| Dans la grand-rue, l’attendait, rose et blanche
| In the high street, waiting for her, pink and white
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| Mademoiselle Isabelle, son amour.
| Mademoiselle Isabelle, her love.
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| Trottinant sans trop de zèle, la jument faisait leur bonheur
| Trotting without too much zeal, the mare made them happy
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| A l’abri sous une ombrelle
| Sheltered under a parasol
|
| En cadence battaient leurs cœurs.
| Their hearts beat rhythmically.
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| A vingt ans, comme tant d’autres, il dut quitter son Isabelle
| At twenty, like so many others, he had to leave his Isabelle
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| En jurant à son amour de lui rester toujours fidèle.
| By swearing to his love to always remain faithful to him.
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| Tous les jours, il lui cueillait les fleurs nouvelles les plus belles
| Every day he picked her the most beautiful new flowers
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| Qu’il jetait dans la rivière qui passait au cher pays.
| Which he threw into the river that passed through the dear country.
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| Et les fleurs de ce poète, naviguant au fil de l’eau
| And this poet's flowers, sailing on the water
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| Apportaient à Isabelle le message le plus beau.
| Brought Isabelle the most beautiful message.
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| En veston jaune et pantalon bleu pervenche
| In yellow jacket and periwinkle blue pants
|
| Dans sa calèche, il viendra le dimanche.
| In his carriage he will come on Sundays.
|
| Dans la grand-rue, l’attendra, rose et blanche
| In the main street, will wait for her, pink and white
|
| Mademoiselle Isabelle, son amour.
| Mademoiselle Isabelle, her love.
|
| Trottinant sans trop de zèle, la jument fera leur bonheur
| Trotting without too much zeal, the mare will make them happy
|
| A l’abri sous une ombrelle
| Sheltered under a parasol
|
| En cadence battront leurs cœurs.
| In rhythm their hearts will beat.
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| Et, plus tard, à la chapelle
| And later in the chapel
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| Un curé bénit leur amour.
| A priest blesses their love.
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| Cette histoire est éternelle
| This story is eternal
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| Chantez-la à votre tour. | Sing it yourself. |