Readings of French Poem “Tristesse” by Alfred de Musset

Alfred de Musset is a poet of the beginning of the 19th century in Paris.

Mostly known for his romantic poems, his theater pieces and his novels, de Musset’s first collection of poems won the approval of Victor Hugo, who accepted him in his Romantic literary circle: Cénacle.

He was the lover of the women writer George Sand, who was the inspiration for this poem.

“Tristesse” by Alfred de Musset French Poem’s Audio

Please click on the audio bar to listen to my slow and fast enunciated recordings of this famous French poem.

1 – “Tristesse” d’Alfred de Musset Poem in French

J’ai perdu ma force et ma vie,
Et mes amis et ma gaîté ;
J’ai perdu jusqu’à la fierté
Qui faisait croire à mon génie.

Quand j’ai connu la Vérité,
J’ai cru que c’était une amie ;
Quand je l’ai comprise et sentie,
J’en étais déjà dégoûté.

Et pourtant elle est éternelle,
Et ceux qui se sont passés d’elle
Ici-bas ont tout ignoré.

Dieu parle, il faut qu’on lui réponde.
— Le seul bien qui me reste au monde
Est d’avoir quelquefois pleuré.

2- “Sorrow” From Alfred de Musset Translation in English

I lost my strength and my life,
My friends and my joy;
I lost till the pride
That made my genius believable.

When I knew Truth,
I thought she was a friend;
When I understood and felt her,
I was already disgusted by her.

Although, she is eternal,
And those who did without her
On this Earth didn’t understand anything.

God is speaking, we must answer him.
The only good I still have in this world
Is to have cried sometime