En silence elle peigne,
Peigne ses longs cheveux.
En silence, avec aise
Et maint air gracieux.
Le soleil luit par place
Dans l’herbe et dans les saules,
Elle, devant la glace,
Peigne ses longs cheveux.
Ah, cesse, je te prie,
De peigner tes cheveux :
J’ai ouï d’une magie
Sous un air gracieux
Qui rend aussi léger
Le séjour que l’adieu,
Belle aux airs gracieux,
Belle aux airs nonchalants.
***
Silently she is combing,
Combing her long hair,
Silently and graciously,
With many a pretty air.
The sun is in the willow leaves
And on the dappled grassy
And still she’s combing her long hair
Before the looking-glass.
I pray you, cease to comb out,
Comb out your long hair,
For I have heard of witchery
Under a pretty air,
That makes as one thing to the lover
Staying and going hence,
Ail fair, with many a pretty air
And many a negligence.
(James Joyce)
Illustration: Pierre-Auguste Renoir