The English version presented below is a literal, word-for-word translation. It attempts to preserve the poet's word order as far as possible, for a better appreciation of the composer's musical treatment of individual words and phrases. Download track from iTunes.

Alors qu’en tes mains de lumière
Tu poses ton front défaillant,
Que mon amour en ta prière
Vienne comme un exaucement.

Alors que la parole expire
Sur ta lèvre qui tremble encor,
Et s’adoucit en un sourire
De roses en des rayons d’or;

Que ton âme calme et muette,
Fée endormie au jardin clos,
En sa douce volonté faite
Trouve la joie et le repos.

Charles Van Lerberghe

While in your lighted hands
You place your weary forehead,
Let my love in your prayer
Come as a fulfilment.

While speech fades out
From your lips that tremble still
And soften in a smile
Of roses in golden rays,

Let your soul, calm and silent,
As a fairy asleep in an enclosed garden,
Now that its gentle will has been done,
[Let it] find joy and rest.