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.

Ange plein de gaieté, connaissez-vous l'angoisse,

La honte, les remords, les regrets, les ennuis,

Et les vagues terreurs de ces affreuses nuits

Qui compriment le coeur comme un papier qu'on froisse?

Ange plein de gaieté, connaissez-vous l'angoisse?

Ange plein de bonté, connaissez-vous la haine?

Les poings crispés dans l'ombre et les larmes de fiel,

Quand la vengeance bat son infernal rappel,

Et de nos facultés se fait le capitaine?

Ange plein de bonté, connaissez-vous la haine?

Ange plein de beauté, connaissez-vous les rides,

Et la peur de vieillir, et ce hideux tourment

De lire la secrète horreur du dévouement

Dans les yeux où longtemps burent nos yeux avides?

Ange plein de beauté, connaissez-vous les rides?

Ange plein de bonheur, de joie et de lumières,

David mourant aurait demandé la santé

Aux émanations de ton corps enchanté;

Mais de toi je n'implore, ange, que tes prières,

Ange plein de bonheur, de joie et de lumières!

Charles Baudelaire

Angel full of gaiety, do you know the anguish,

The shame, the remorse, the regrets, the troubles,

And the vague terrors of those awful nights

That crush the heart like a scrunched up piece of paper?

Angel full of gaiety, do you know anguish?

Angel full of goodness, do you know the hatred,

The clenched fists in the shadow and the bitter tears

When vengeance beats its infernal call to arms

And makes itself the commander of our faculties?

Angel full of goodness, do you know hatred?

Angel full of beauty, do you know the wrinkles,

And the fear of growing old, and that hideous torment

Of reading the secret horror of devotion

In those eyes where our eager eyes drank for so long?

Angel full of beauty, do you know of wrinkles?

Angel full of happiness, joy and light,

The dying David would have asked for health

When presented with the emanations from your enchanted body;

But from you, angel, I beg only your prayers,

Angel full of happiness, joy and of light.