In times long ago, in the time of dreams, in the fairy days
Charles Koechlin
In times long ago, in the time of dreams, in the fairy days,
we should have lived in the woods with the lilies of the valley,
under the branches, among hushed sounds,
Knowing nothing, believing nothing, free and joyous,
Nourished by moonlight and drinking dew;
we should have lived in the woods with the lilies of the valley,
We could have slept under two crossed leaves,
sung along with the water-spring and laughed with the wind,
nourished by moonlight and drinking dew...
-- The world is false, flesh is vile, art is disappointing...
Oh! To delude oneself in the depths of emerald palaces,
To sing with the water-spring and laugh with the wind!
Following the dragonfly and the wandering breeze,
Perhaps one day Mab would have transformed us into flowers;
Oh! To delude oneself in the depths of emerald palaces!
It is so good to forget one's joys and one's sorrows!
Come, let us roll in the ruffled moss...
Perhaps one day Mab would have transformed us into flowers,
In times long ago, in the time of dreams, in the fairy days.