Jan 3, 2006 20:56
19 yrs ago
6 viewers *
French term
MEB
Tristes apprêts
Non-PRO
French to English
Art/Literary
Music
Rameau song texts
It comes from Rameau's Castor et Pollux.
Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux,
jour plus affreux que les ténèbres,
astres lugubres des tombeaux,
non je ne verrai plus que vos clartés funèbres.
Any idea what those tristes apprêts in the first line might be? Just sad preparations for the funeral? My dictionary says something about fabric finishings, so perhaps it could be a reference to a particular kind of garment associated with mourning?
Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux,
jour plus affreux que les ténèbres,
astres lugubres des tombeaux,
non je ne verrai plus que vos clartés funèbres.
Any idea what those tristes apprêts in the first line might be? Just sad preparations for the funeral? My dictionary says something about fabric finishings, so perhaps it could be a reference to a particular kind of garment associated with mourning?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | sad/mournful, etc. preparations |
Bourth (X)
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| 4 | Sorrowful/sad affectations/preparations |
Marshall Johnson
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Proposed translations
+1
2 hrs
French term (edited):
Tristes appr�ts
Selected
sad/mournful, etc. preparations
I'd go for "preparations". The word has two (at least) definitions, one referring to "(ceremonial) preparations", the other to preliminary treatment of something, be it fabrics, a paint undercoat, or a "papier d'apprêt" applied to walls before the decorative wallpaper, etc.
Found this translation for you :
Sad preparations, pale torches,
Day more frightful than the night,
Lugubrious stars of tombs,
No, I shall not see anything but your funereal lights.
You who see my heart dismayed,
Father of the day, O Sun! o my Father!
I no longer wish a blessing that Castor has lost,
And I renounce your light.
Sad preparation, etc.
http://www.blackmask.com/books116c/castor.htm
Found this translation for you :
Sad preparations, pale torches,
Day more frightful than the night,
Lugubrious stars of tombs,
No, I shall not see anything but your funereal lights.
You who see my heart dismayed,
Father of the day, O Sun! o my Father!
I no longer wish a blessing that Castor has lost,
And I renounce your light.
Sad preparation, etc.
http://www.blackmask.com/books116c/castor.htm
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Laurel Porter (X)
: Nice ref. - but I wonder about the "day more frightful than the night" - it's meant to be the metaphorical day created by the torches in the shadowy tomb. Obfuscates the fact that the 1st 4 lines are all ref. to the torches, IMO.
9 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Sorry to have taken so long to get back. Many thanks for your help, especially for that link which will be very useful I think!"
3 hrs
French term (edited):
Tristes appr�ts
Sorrowful/sad affectations/preparations
This is just another option. There is usually a double meaning in the songs and writings of most composers, etc. Two possibilities:
1. the atmosphere of the funeral itself (sad and dreadful tone)
2. the actual cloth that is sometimes used in a funeral mass; it is placed over the casket and in former days, it was a solid black cloth.
1. the atmosphere of the funeral itself (sad and dreadful tone)
2. the actual cloth that is sometimes used in a funeral mass; it is placed over the casket and in former days, it was a solid black cloth.
Discussion