Paris, Paris

Quand nous sommes très forts, - qui recule?

Très gai, qui tombe de ridicule? Quand nous

sommes très méchants, que ferait-on de nous?

  Parez-vous, dansez, riez, - Je ne pourrai

jamais envoyer l'Amour par la fenétre.

When we are quite strong, - who backs down?

Very merry, who falls from ridicule? When we're

very cruel, what would they make of us?

  Go dress up, dance, laugh, - I could never

throw Love out the window.

Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud
Illuminations
  Phrases
  Extract
  Translation Laurent
1875
Published 1886
Public Domain